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TEXAS HEROES 

A READER FOR SCHOOLS 



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BY 

KATIE DAFFAN 

Author of "Woman in History" and 
The Woman on the Pine Springs Road" 



ov TToW aWa ttoXv 



BENJ. H. SANBORN & CO. 

boston new YORK CHICAGO 

1912 






Copyright, 1912 
By KATIE DAFFAN 



THE PINKHAM PRESS 

234 Congress Street 

BOSTON 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Mission Home ii 

The Pirate of Southern Seas ....... 18 

How A Woman Kept the Fort 24 

Our First Inhabitants 29 

A Brave Soldier of France 37 

The Pioneer 51 

The Father of Texas 59 

The Fighting Devil 72 

The Hero of San Antonio 80 

The Sign of the White Handkerchief .... 87 
Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead .... 93 

Remember Goliad! lOO 

The Hero of the Alamo .104 

The Hero of San Jacinto . . 113 

The Hero of Shiloh 136 

Our Indian Fighter Governor 143 

The Old Commoner 148 

More Soldiers Than Voters 154 



INTRODUCTION 

The object of " Texas Heroes " is to create in the 
mind of the child a love for those men who gave their 
strength, their talent and their life blood for Texas, 
and to stimulate a desire to dip deeper into the wonder- 
ful history of our State. 

Nothing can speak like a life. It is not what men 
say but what they do that makes history. Bold lines 
of endeavor, faithful purpose, persistence and patience, 
shorn of all affectation, speak to the world as can no 
other forces. Such lives were those lived by the heroes 
of Texas, those men who gave their service and talent 
when they were needed, and who, as willingly, gave 
their brave lives when Texas called for them. 

In the preparation of this Reader I have consulted 
documents and histories in our State Library, including 
Brown's History of Texas, Yoakum's History of Texas, 
Bolton and Barker: " With the Makers of Texas," The 
Quarterlies of the Texas Historical Association, the 
*' Texas Biographical Souvenir," '* Texas Indian Fight- 
ers," Bancroft's History of the United States, the 
reports of the American Bureau of Ethnology and the 
letters and memoranda preserved in the State Archives. 

To Mr. E. W. Winkler, State Librarian, I wish 
to express my deep appreciation for his assistance 



Introduction 

in selecting such references as were of practical use in 
the preparation and arrangement of the Reader. 

To Dr. Eugene C. Barker, head of the School of His- 
tory in the University of Texas, joint author of '* With 
the Makers of Texas," and a " School History of 
Texas," who has read the manuscript in part, ] am in- 
debted for valuable suggestions. 

Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, author of Penny- 
backer's " History of Texas," for fifteen years a text in 
the public schools of Texas has read the manuscript, 
and I am indebted to her for kind suggestions. 

Mr. P. W. Horn, Superintendent of the Public 
Schools of Houston, has given me practical aid in 
adapting the matter here included to the instruction 
and entertainment of schqol children. 

Dr. A. B. Conley, State Superintendent of Public 
Buildings and Grounds, has assisted me in procuring 
appropriate illustrations for the Reader. 

I trust that the noble endeavor and the achievements 
of the Texas Heroes may influence the life of every boy 
and girl in Texas. 

I suggest that the book be read by the children of 
the fourth or fifth years, depending upon the grading 
of the school and the attainment of particular classes. 

KATIE DAFFAN. 

Austin, Texas, September, 1912. 





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TEXAS HEROES 

THE MISSION HOME 

The good Franciscan priests gave their service, some- 
times their noble Kves, in building and keeping up the 
missions. They founded missions for the purpose 
of civilizing and making Christians of the Indians in 
Texas, though in their time Texas was not called 
" Texas " but " The New Philippines." These priests, 
who knew much about men, said, " The first thing we 
have to do is to make these Indians into men, and after- 
wards to make them Christians." 

FIRST LESSONS 

Some of the good lessons that the priests tried to 
teach the Indians were to be patient and to love their 
enemies and not try to scalp them, and this is a hard 
lesson for an Indian to learn. The priests gave the 
Indians comfortable clothes and good food. They also 
tried to teach them to read, to have good, regular 
habits, to cultivate the soil, and to raise cattle. The 
great difficulty which the priests found was to teach 
the Indian to love his work. Sometimes he would work 
for a little present, or from fear of being punished, but 

11 



12 Texas Heroes 

very few Indians took up work just for the love 
of it. Laziness was one of the prominent traits 
of the Indian character. The women worked harder 
and did better work than the men. They learned to 
weave coarse, heavy cloth, to make baskets and blankets, 
but the men were so lazy the priests could hardly make 
them work at all. Herding cattle was about all they 
cared to do and it was usually by force that the priests 
made them do other things. 

THE PRIESTS 

The priests had great faith in God and they were 
good, humble men, or they could never have lived 
through their many trials with the Indians. They 
worked on, day after day, with no thought of reward, 
and they did not own property of any kind, for their 
business was '' to beg and to preach." 

They went bare-footed, and wore a coarse, woolen 
garment like a cloak, open at the throat. From a 
heavy cord around their waists hung a rope with a whip 
or scourge tied to the end of it. 

When the Indians were sick the priests watched by 
their bedside until they were well again, and, in every 
way, were just as kind as the Indians would let them 
be. 

Some of the priests when they came to the wilderness 
of Texas were very young, and spent their entire 
lives teaching the savages, never returning to their 
homes or again meeting their old friends and the 
members of their families. Such heroism as this is 



The Mission Home 



13 



found only among those who are deeply interested in 
the welfare of others. 

THE FIRST MISSIONS 

The country was unknown to the priests. Much of 
it was wilderness. They had to bring with them the 

tools with which they 
were to work, so their 
first efforts in mission 
building were very 
poor. 

The first mission 
buildings were cabins 
made of logs covered 
with the boughs and 
branches of trees 
. laced or tied togeth- 
er. One part of these 
queer houses was 
used for the prayer 
and praise service 
which was held every 
day. Another part 
was a hospital where the sick ones were cared for; another 
part was where the priests and soldiers lived; and still 
another was where the Indians lived. 

The Indians watched the mission builders put up 




4M:' ;?*'%. 



k SWIFT RUNNER* 



♦(Picture from Eggleston's "Stories of American Life and Adventure,' 
Copyright, 1895, by American Book Company. Used by permission.) 



14 Texas Heroes 

these strange houses and, at first, they were interested 
and tried to assist them. They cut down trees 
and carried water, and for this assistance the priests 
gave them httle presents and always treated them 
kindly. But the Indians were not regular workers 
and soon tired of helping the priests. 

LIFE IN THE MISSIONS 

Each Indian had his own particular duty assigned to 
him, and he was required to perform it or be punished. 
When the Indians came in from their work at noon 
they were given good, wholesome food, after which 
they returned to their work. The day was closed with 
an evening service. 

The permanent missions, built of stone, were often 
used as forts b^^ the people who sought protection. 
Not only did the priests care for the Indians who were 
on the inside, but they kept away the unfriendly ones 
on the outside. They sometimes took care of travel- 
ers who, had it not been for the priests' protection, 
would have lost their lives at the hands of the savage 
Indians. 

The mission building, usually erected around a 
square, included a room for worship, rooms for the 
priests and soldiers, and nearby cabins for the converted 
Indians. A Presidio (Pra-see'-di-o), or military fort, 
was attached to each large mission, and it was intended 
that each Presidio should have a Commandant and a 
number of soldiers. 

A high wall surrounded the mission, a heavy iron 



The Mission Home 15 

gate was locked at night, and the key was safely kept 
by the priests. So enemies were kept away and the 
Indians on the inside were not allowed to get away. 

A heavy, sweet-toned bell hung in a tall tower to call 
the Indians to and from their work, and to give the 
alarm when some Indian could not be found. 

The village grew up around the mission and the Pre- 
sidio, and the unmarried soldiers lived in the Presidio. 
The settlers, and the soldiers who had families, lived in 
the village. 

The soldiers were not very helpful to the priests for 
they were often unkind to the Indians and they were 
quarrelsome. They were cowardly in their dealings 
and the Indians had little respect for them. Though 
they were well paid to protect the priests and the 
Indians, they gave nearly as much trouble as the 
Indians did. 

INDIAN CHILDREN 

Indian children were born in the missions and the 
priests were kind to the Indian mothers and their 
babies. The priests baptized and named the little 
Indian babies when they were only a few hours old, 
giving each baby a saint's name and a little present 
which the mother put away carefully and kept for him. 

A record of all births, deaths and marriages was 
kept, and some of these baptismal lists, which show 
the date and place of birth, are still in existence. 
The Indian children enjoyed life, for there were 
streams for them to wade, high trees to climb, 



16 Texas Heroes 

nuts to gather, and berries to pick. The priests taught 
the Indian children the catechism in a separate class 
from the older Indians. Sometimes they would teach 
the children under the shade of the trees or on the big 
rocks near the banks of a river. The children all loved 
the priests and learned their lessons in the catechism 
better than the older Indians did. 

THE RESTLESS INDIANS 

It was very hard for the Indians to learn to love God 
better than they loved their hunting ground, and to 
unlearn some of the things that they had learned before 
the priests came. They had been worshiping many 
gods, now they must worship just one God. 

Sometimes the Indians were so restless that it was 
impossible for the priests to keep them at the missions. 
All forms of civilization seemed a burden that they 
could not bear. They longed for the deep, swift 
streams, their hunting grounds, their wild riding over 
the prairies, and their old time life as free as the fresh, 
crisp air. 

The priests, who understood the Indians' nature, 
used every care and kindness, controlling them gently 
but firmly. Sometimes, in spite of all that the priests 
could do, the Indians ran away and it took the priests 
a long time to bring them back to the missions. They 
punished them for running away but never cruelly. 
The men were punished publicly and the women 
privately. 



The Mission Home 17 

MISSIONS ARE DEAR TO TEXAS 

Some of these mission buildings are still in very good 
condition, some are only partially preserved, while 
others have long ago fallen into dust and decay. 

The remains of these mission buildings are very dear 
to Texas. Though other states in the Union have made 
rapid progress and in their improved lands, cities and 
towns reached great prosperity, Texas is one of the few 
states which hold within their borders these old ruins 
which tell of a work of self-sacrifice so needed and so 
full of the Christian spirit of civilization. 

Texas today reaps the benefit of the work of the 
Franciscan Priests. 



THE PIRATE OF SOUTHERN SEAS 

Jean LaFitte (Zhon La feet'), born in Bayonne, 
France, when a small boy removed with his parents to 
the West Indies. There often occurred in the West Indies 
trouble with the negroes who lived there, which troubles 
were called uprisings, or insurrections. These drove 
many of the white people away. Jean LaFitte, with 
his father, mother and brother, went to New Orleans 
for safety, and there made a home. 

Jean and his brother Pierre (Pe'-er) were very ener- 
getic boys and wanted to do something to help their 
mother and father who had lost all of their property 
and were having a hard time. They knew no 
one in New Orleans to whom they could go for help. 
The two boys said they would open a blacksmith shop, 
for that was a good and useful trade, and as all of the 
traveling was on horseback or in carriages and wagons 
they thought they could make money, and they did. 

Their blacksmith shop on Phillips Street became a 
popular and much visited place for travelers who were 
passing through the city and the LaFittes were kept 
busy. Their anvil sounded early and late and they 
worked with a will. Strangers would often stop and 
look at these two boys, tall, straight and dark-eyed. 

18 



The Pirate of Southern Seas 19 

Often they would stop for a second look, for these two 
boys were different from the boys that were on the 
streets every day. 

Jean took the lead in everything, and he told Pierre 
what to do and how to do it. He decided that they 
were not making money fast enough and that the trade 
of the blacksmith was not one that he would like to 
follow all through life. So one day Jean told Pierre 
that he was going away and that he needn't look for 
him until he saw him, and that the next time he saw 
him he would have a fortune. 

Jean had found a man who was a smuggler. A 
ship smuggler is one who gets his ships into port 
without paying duty on their contents, the fee that 
the government charges to let the vessels enter the 
port. This smuggler employed Jean to help get the 
vessels through, which was, of course, a very dishonest 
employment. 

Large vessels came to the port at New Orleans 
and brought merchandise, precious lace, wood, metal, 
ornaments and slaves. 

LaFitte lived down the Mississippi on a beautiful 
island called Barrataria (Bar-ra-ta'-ria), and some- 
times he and the men who helped him smuggle goods 
and capture ships would meet there at night. They 
would look over the wonderful goods that they had 
captured and try to estimate their value. They took 
the greatest care that nobody should find them on their 
island home. 



20 Texas Heroes 

Everybody had heard of Jean LaFitte and they knew 
that his hiding place was somewhere near New Orleans, 
but just where nobody knew. They thought about 
him as a bold, fearless sea captain, who just looked at a 
ship then took everything that he wanted. LaFitte 
took great pains that nobody should ever see him, 
though he seemed to see everybody. 

Before long the sea trade of New Orleans was nearly 
ruined by LaFitte's piracies, and the United States 
said it would have to stop. For a long time the officers 
on the ships searched for LaFitte on the wooded banks 
of the river and in the city of New Orleans, but, at last. 
Commodore Patterson of the United States Navy 
found the treasure island, Barrataria. 

A war was going on at this time between the United 
States and Great Britain, called the war of 1812. La 
Fitte was offered a position in the navy of Great Britain. 
He was such a fine sea captain that Great Britain 
wanted him to be on her side, and she knew what trials 
she would have if he were on the other side. He con- 
sidered her offer for a while, then decided that he had 
better not accept it. He decided to go to New Orleans 
and offer his services to General Andrew Jackson of the 
army of the United States. 

General Jackson accepted his services, and in the 
famous battle of New Orleans, fought January the 
eighth, 1815, LaFitte gave such splendid service that 
President Madison of the United States said he 



The Pirate of Southern Seas 21 

would forgive him for all of his misdeeds committed 
before that time. 

Next we find LaFitte on Galveston Island. He ob- 
tained permission from the government of Venezuela 
to " prey upon the commerce of Spain," that is, to cap- 
ture or plunder their ships. He rose to the full limit 
of this permission, and with his band of companions 
and his stout vessels he made himself very rich with 
the stores that he captured. 

LaFitte told all of the officers of these vessels that 
he was the Governor of Texas under the revolutionary 
government of Mexico. They all believed him, and, 
in fact, he had, probably, received some kind of an ap- 
pointment from the Mexican commissioner at New Or- 
leans. 

LaFitte required the officers and owners of the vessels 
in port to take the oath of allegiance to the Republic 
of Mexico. They had to say that they would pro- 
tect Mexico and be her citizens. He knew something 
about government as well as about plundering vessels. 

LAFITTE ORGANIZES A GOVERNMENT 

LaFitte organized a government on board one of his 
ships the " Carmelita Grey,'' anchored in the harbor. 

The officers of his government were a Military Com- 
mandant, a Judge of Admiralty, a Notary Public, a 
Marine Commandant, a Secretary of State, Secretary 
of the Treasury, Administrator of Revenue, and a 
Mayor. His purpose in organizing a government was 
to capture the large Spanish vessels.. His company 



22 Texas Heroes 

of pirates, as they boldly put out to sea under the 
Mexican flag, called themselves " privateers." 

Both the United States and Spain complained of 
what LaFitte was doing, but both were afraid of him. 

Spain was afraid that the United States would claim 
Galveston Island if LaFitte and his pirates were stopped 
or captured by the United States ships. The United 
States did riot hasten to stop him, so LaFitte was left 
undisturbed in his business of capturing vessels, big and 
little, and making of himself the richest man on the 
continent. 

THE PIRATES STEAL AN INDIAN GIRL 

One day some of LaFitte's pirates were out hunting 
and they sa'w a pretty Karankawa (Ka-rank'-a-wa) 
Indian girl. As they were in the habit of taking 
everything that they wanted they stole this girl. 
Until this ugly deed was committed these Indians had 
been friendly with the pirates, but this made them very 
angry and they attacked a party of the pirates and 
killed four of them. LaFitte at once marched against 
the Indians, attacking three hundred of them who were 
encamped near '' The three trees," a point on the island. 
After a sharp attack, in which thirty of their number 
were killed, the Indians scattered and hurried to the 
main land. Not one of the pirates was killed but most 
of them were crippled by the Indians' arrows. 

LAFITTE IS CAPTURED 

In 1820, LaFitte and his pirates plundered and sank 
a vessel in Matagorda Bay. This was too much for 



The Pirate of Southern Seas 23 

the United States, and so officers were sent to look into 
the affair. Very soon the United States sent an armed 
vessel under Lieutenant Karnes to break up the pirates' 
hold for all time. 

LaFitte's home on Galveston Island, called " The red 
house," was a large, comfortable place, where many 
visitors had been entertained. When he heard that 
Lieutenant Karnes was coming he went out to meet 
him, thinking that he could overpower him with fine 
speeches and great politeness, and take him to the red 
house, where he would give him a fine dinner. He 
had done this with other visitors and had won them 
over to his side, but this time fine speeches, politeness 
and a fine dinner were not the things required. Bold, 
fearless LaFitte, at last, was forced to yield. Taking 
with him his favorite lieutenant, and sixty of his men, 
he spread his sails to the breeze and left the coast of 
Texas, never to return. He died about the year 1826. 



HOW A WOMAN KEPT THE FORT 

In 1819, Galveston Island was a lonely, desolate 
place, occupied only by the pirate LaFitte. Beautiful 
as it is today with a stately city, an attractive beach, 
fertile gardens and farms, then it was a lonely stretch 
of land, and the only sounds to be heard were the cries 
and calls of sea-birds, and the doleful sighing and moan- 
ing of the big gulf waves. 

No ships freighted with precious stores from all parts 
of the world came to port, and no boating and sailing 
parties, joyous with young voices and gay music, went 
out at the evening time. But with lonely sounds in her 
ears and a dull pain in her heart, a brave woman, each 
day, strained her eyes to find the vessel that would 
bring to her the beloved face she longed to see, or a 
message of good news. This brave woman was Mrs. 
Jane Wilkinson Long. When she was very young she 
had married Dr. James Long, a young surgeon, who 
fought with General Jackson in the battle of New 
Orleans and whom General Jackson called ''The young 
lion." The love of a soldier's life and for a bold 
adventure, and the daring scenes of the battlefield filled 
the heart of young Dr. Long, so he made up his mind 
to come into the new country, the west, in search of 



How a Woman Kept the Fort 25 

opportunities to fight for the weak against the strong. 

DR. LONG HELPS TEXAS 

When Mexico was doing her best to be free from 
Spain's cruel treatment, Dr. Long organized a band of 
brave men to save that portion of Mexico called Texas. 
In organizing and getting these men together, he was 
away from his home much of the time and he often 
found himself in dangerous places. 

On many long and tiresome rides he was accom- 
panied by his young wife who seemed never to tire so 
long as she could be near her husband and help him. 
And by her bright, cheerful manner and gentle speech 
she kept his spirits up. 

In 1820, Dr. Long had to take the long journey to 
La Bahia, now Goliad, a trip exposing him to many 
dangers. But brave men do not stop at dangers, so he 
went right on, with only one worry in his heart, and that 
was that he would have to leave his devoted wife to 
wait for his return, for it was impossible for her to 
accompany him. He made her as comfortable as 
he could in a rude fort at Bolivar (BoF-i-var) Point, a 
high point of land across the bay from Galveston 
Island. 

For the days to pass and pass one after the other, all 
alike, and for the only thing that we wish for, never, 
never to come, requires a faith that all of us do not 
possess. The days passed but no news came to the 
faithful wife. 



26 Texas Heroes 

MRS. LONG IS LEFT IN THE FORT 

One day the two guards that Dr. Long had left to 
protect his wife in the fort deserted their post, leaving 
Mrs. Long alone with her little daughter and one ser- 
vant. Early and late Mrs. Long looked out to sea, 
searching for a sail. Two or three times vessels on 
their way to New Orleans touched at the point to carry 
her on to New Orleans for safety, but she would not go, 
as she had not given up hope that her husband, some- 
where dela;yed, was on his way to her and their little one. 

Among the dangers which she had to face were the 
visits of the Karankawa (Ka-rank'-a-wa) Indians who, 
now that LaFitte was no longer on the Island, came 
often to their old haunts. One time Mrs. Long saw 
a band of them coming in the direction of the fort, 
and when they were near, she fired a cannon to make 
them think the fort was defended. She did not dare 
leave the fort in the daytime, but during the night she 
would send her servant to the beach to gather oysters, 
her only food. 

In the winter of 1820, Galveston Bay was a sheet of 
ice and Mrs. Long's faithful servant, Kian (Kee'-on), 
found frozen fish beneath the ice. She and Mrs. Long, 
by cutting a hole in the ice, obtained a good supply of 
fish, which they packed in brine for their winter use. 

One day a strange visitor came to the fort, but he be- 
haved himself and made no trouble. As Kian and Mrs. 
Long's little daughter sat one day looking out upon the 
frozen front yard, a big brown bear slowly walked 



How a Woman Kept the Fort 



27 



across the ice up to the fort. Mrs. Long's watch-dog, 
'' Galveston," barked loud and long, but other than 
this no disturbance came from his visit. 

All things, even waiting and sorrow, have to end, and 
the end can be worse than the waiting. One evening, 
a Mexican, sent by General Palacios (Pa-la'-sios), at 
San Antonio, came to the fort with a message. It was 

the message for 
which Mrs. Long had 
watched and waited 
and prayed through- 
out the months of 
her loneliness. 

It brought no news 
of the early return of 
her husband, but it 
told her that he had 
been killed in the 
city of Mexico. Soon 
another messenger 
came, providing 
mules to carry her, her two little girls, and Kian to San 
Antonio, for one little girl had been born during the 
lonely wait at Bolivar Point. The Mexican officials 
in San Antonio treated Mrs. Long as the widow of a 
hero and a patriot. 

Her life went on until eighty years were reached, 

*(Picture from Eggleston's "Stories of American Life and Adventure." 
Copyright, 1895, by American Book Company. Used by permission.) 




A STRANGE VISITOR"* 



28 Texas Heroes 

years given to the care and happiness of others. She 
died as she had Hved, devoted to her never-to-be-for- 
gotten beloved dead. 



OUR FIRST INHABITANTS 

When the Franciscan priests came to Texas to estab- 
lish missions, in order first to civiHze and then make 
Christians of the Indians, they found many scattered 
tribes all through the country. 

Each tribe had its own chief, and the Indians who 
were members of a tribe were faithful to their chief, 
whom they obeyed and followed. When a member of 
a tribe was disobedient he was punished. The various 
tribes did not speak the same language, they had 
different habits and they dressed differently. Some 
of the tribes wore their hair long, some wore it short, 
some wore tall head feathers, others wore feathers in a 
kind of collar or cape around their necks. Some wore 
beads of every color and kind, others wore some other 
kind of decoration. These little differences in dress 
showed that they were members of different tribes. 

Though the dress was not exactly the same in every 
tribe, every Indian in every tribe loved to fish and to 
hunt. Some of the tribes lived almost entirely by 
fishing, and they were wonderful swimmers. The 
swiftest, strongest currents of the rivers could not 
frighten them. 

The Texas of the day of the early Indian was grazed 

29 



30 



Texas Heroes 



over by the buffalo, the gray prairie grass was the 
hiding place of quail and partridge, and deer roamed 
through the wild forests. So the entire country over 
which the Indians journeyed on their small ponies was 
a " happy hunting ground." 

Until the priests 
came to teach 
them, the Indians 
did not seem to 
care to build hous- 
es, cultivate the 
soil or improve 
their minds or bod- 
ies in any way. 

The Indians in 
Mexico, unlike 
those in Texas, 
were very indus- 
trious. They made 
fine cloth by spin- 
ning and weaving, 
built beautiful 
temples, founded 
schools and even 
painted pictures. 

The weapons of the Texas Indians were bows and 
arrows. The bow was made of a strong, slender 

*(Picture from Hitchcock's "Louisiana Purchase." Copyrighted by Ginn 
and Company. Used by permission.) 




INDIAN CHIEF* 



Our First Inhabitants 31 

branch of a tree, and the string was usually made of 
deer skin. The arrows were sometimes made of flint, 
and sometimes of wood with a flint point. Sometimes 
the Indians used a short-handled axe, and a long, keen 
knife with which they scalped the white men. Later 
they used rifles and pistols, bought, stolen or captured 
from the white men. 

AN INDIAN BABY CARRIAGE 

The Indian mother carried her baby, called a " pa- 
poose," in a slipper-shaped straw basket on her back. 
This basket was strapped across the mother's shoulders 
and around her waist and it was a very comfortable 
bed for the baby. This strange baby carriage did not 
interfere with the mother's work or with her taking 
long journeys over the country. 

SOME OF THE TRIBES 

The Cenis (Sa'-nees) Indians lived near Buffalo 
bayou and on the Trinity River, where their chief 
trading village was located. The Cenis Indians more 
nearly lived a home life than many of the other 
tribes. They planted trees close together and tied the 
branches over head, covering them with dry vines, which 
made a very good warm shelter. They made beds for 
themselves, they would not sleep on the ground, and 
only two families were allowed to occupy one of these 
tree-covered houses. Their villages were large and 
orderly, and corn was raised each year and traded with 
the Comanches for horses, money or silverware. 

The Lipans (Lip'-ans) and the Karankawas (Ka- 



32 Texas Heroes 

rilnk'-a-was) lived along the coast and along the lower 
Brazos and Colorado rivers. They could run faster 
than the other Indians and they were among the best 
fishermen and hunters. The Asinais, (Has-e'-nas), the 
Adaes (A-da'-as), and the Aes (Ish), lived between the 
Neches and the Sabine rivers. These three tribes were 
a part of the Caddo nation and like the Cenis Indians, 
they were peaceful and home-loving. But Indians, even 
the most quiet ones, will fight if they are angry or if 
they have good cause to fight. No Indian can really 
get along or be happy long at a time without a fight. 

The Tonkawas (Tonk'-a-was) roamed wildly over the 
prairie, on the rivers and through the woods between 
the Colorado and the Guadalupe, below the stretch of 
mountains which made a natural protection for them 
from their enemies, the fierce Comanches. 

Along the valley of the Brazos River wandered the 
scattered tribes of the Waco (Wa'-co) Indians, who 
built their main village near the center of their roaming 
ground. 

To the north and the east of the Wacoes were the 
Tehuacana (Ta-wa'-ca-na) Indians who were like them 
in habits and who were friendly with them. 

The Comanches and the Kiowas (Ke-o'-was) lived 
in the northwest, and of all the tribes in Texas they were 
the greatest wanderers. They were wild, swift riders, 
and they would mount their ponies and fly across the 
prairies at a moment's notice, attacking villages, and 
laying waste the country generally. They loved to 



Our First Inhabitants 33 

kill, the sight of blood was good to their savage hearts, 
and they would steal anything. 

These two tribes took delight in attacking the Span- 
iards and they kept them running to and fro in con- 
stant terror. 

The Apaches (A-patch'-ees) were also a wild, fierce 
tribe, who came in after the Comanches and worked 
their way into central and southern Texas. 

Near Goliad lived the Anaquas (An'-a-kwas), the 
Bidais (Bee-dii-is) were on the Trinity, and here and 
there may still be found remnants of other early tribes , 
the Anadarcos (An-a-dar'-cos), the Ionics (E-o'-nees), the 
Keechies (Kee'-chees), and the Wichitas ( Witch '-i-taws). 

Early in the 19th century a part of the Arkansas 
Cherokee Indians wanted to come into Texas to live, 
so they obtained permission and a grant of land from 
the Mexican government. But though their good 
friend. General Houston, tried to assist them, their 
right to the land was never made clear. 

In 1839, the Cherokee Chief, Bowl, and a large number 
of his men were killed and the remaining Cherokees were 
sent out of Texas. 

These are some of the early Indians in Texas, our 
first inhabitants, but there were portions of other 
tribes who wandered in and out, never stopping except 
to plunder or to send a swift arrow into some unsus- 
pecting camp. 

HOW THE INDIANS BROKE UP A PARTY 

One night a brave man in east Texas sent to the 



34 Texas Heroes 

woods a large band of Indians who were bent upon the 
worst form of murderous mischief. Young Alexander 
Horton, who later fought well at San Jacinto, went to a 
party one night in the country a good many miles from 
where he lived. As it was such a long distance from 
his home in San Augustine he rode on horseback. 
While the young folks at the party were dancing, a 
swift messenger rode up to the house with the news 
that Alexander Horton's mother was being murdered 
by the Indians. Of course this brought the party to 
an end. Horton mounted his horse and rode at hot 
speed to his home, praying that he might arrive in time 
to save his mother. 

As he approached his home he saw the Indians in 
the front yard, on the porch, and in the house. His 
mother was bound hand and foot, and the cowardly 
Indians were ready to give the death blow. 

Horton, whose appearance on the scene startled the 
murderers, took unerring aim, killed one Indian and 
wounded another. The other Indians, now hidden be- 
hind the shrubbery and trees, took away their dead 
and wounded and hurried into the woods. From that 
time Horton had no more trouble with the Indians, 
though they lived very near his home. 

Horton's action shows that quick, personal courage 
can get the best of an Indian, and in the presence of 
this kind of courage the Indian runs away just as fast 
as he can, never looking back. 




THE LANDING OF LA SALLE 

(Picture from Hitchcock's " Louisrana Purchase." 
Copyrighted by Ginn and Company. Used by permission.) 



A BRAVE SOLDIER OF FRANCE 

Rene-Robert Cavelier (Kii-val'-ya) de La Salle 
(La Sail') was born in Rouen (Roo'-a), the capital 
of Normandy, France, in 1643. He lias been called 
the "father of colonization" because he was among 
the very first to bring settlers into the great middle- 
west country of the United States. 

When all of the countries in Europe, France among 
them, began to talk about ''America! America!" great 
numbers of men and ships were sent over to take posses- 
sion of the wonderful new country. Young LaSalle, 
bold and restless, said he wanted to go to Canada, where 
he thought he could make a fortune among the fur 
traders and trappers, and go he did. In a light boat, 
called by the Indians a canoe, made of the bark of trees 
and deer skin, he explored all of the scattered lakes and 
rivers of Canada. The people in Europe did not know 
how big America was ; they knew that the Pacific Ocean 
was somewhere west of the Great Lakes, and that is all 
that they did know with certainty. 

LaSalle thought he could go up the St. Lawrence 
River, through the lakes to Lake Superior, and from 
the western outlet of Lake Superior he would be in 
easy reach of the Pacific ocean, then he would sail 

37 



38 Texas Heroes 

for China. All of this he wanted to do for France! 
for then the route of travel from Asia to Europe would 
be under the control of France, and that alone would 
make France's possessions in the new world of enor- 
mous value. 

The Indians, with whom LaSalle made friends, 
told him about a great river that they called the ''Father 
of Waters." LaSalle thought that, maybe, this river 
was the route to the Pacific ocean. So, after he had 
received permission from the Governor of Canada, he 
set out to find the ''Father of Waters," the great river 
which we call the Mississippi. 

For eleven winters the courageous LaSalle wandered 
amid the ice and snow. Across the lakes, up and down 
the St. Lawrence, at the head waters of the Mississippi, 
and it was not until February, 1682, he came upon the 
"Father of Waters," which he called "Colbert" (KoF- 
bar) in honor of one of the greatest men at the Court 
of France, the Finance Minister or Treasurer of Louis 
XIV. 

When LaSalle, at last, found the river, it was so 
blocked with ice and snow, that he and his men could 
do nothing but stop and camp until the snow melted. 
Some of his brave men had died and others had 
become disheartened. Many times none of them could 
find enough to eat. 

When the ice melted they set forth and journeyed 
to the mouth of what we now call the Missouri river, 
where they made their first long stop. The Indians in 



A Brave Soldier of France 39 

a little Indian village located there received them very- 
kindly. 

LaSalle and his men continued to travel down the 
*Tather of Waters," stopping again for some days at the 
mouth of what is now called the Ohio River. Here his 
men found much game, and plenty of fish, and they 
explored the beautiful forests. 

LONG LIVE THE KING! 

As they floated and paddled on the river, they 
noticed a change in the look of the country. They 
had left behind them all of the ice and all of the snow. 
The banks of the river were no longer high and steep, 
but were growing wider and wider, and were in some 
places covered with flowers which filled the air with 
sweet odors. The trees were tall and fine, and the men 
were delighted with the beautiful new country. 

At last there was salt in the water and in the breeze, 
the water was more quiet, and LaSalle knew that they 
were nearing the sea. It was not, however, the Pacific 
ocean but the Gulf of Mexico that they were approach- 
ing. LaSalle and his men landed and took posses- 
sion of the country, and shouted with ringing voices: 
"Long live the King!" Then, with a fervent prayer, 
they erected a cross, upon which were carved the arms 
of France and the words, "Louis the Great reigns. 
April 9, 1682." Then LaSalle dedicated the country 
to God and to Louis XIV, King of France, naming it 
Louisiana in the King's honor. 

LaSalle was so rejoiced over the beautiful country 



40 Texas Heroes 

that he had found that he determined to go back 
to Canada, then to France, where he would lay before 
his beloved king a plan to found a new and greater 
France. He was eager to obtain the royal permission 
to make settlements along the wonderful river. 

LASALLE RETURNS TO FRANCE 

LaSalle carried out his plan, going first to Canada, 
thence to France, arriving at Rochelle (Ro-sheF) in 
December, 1683. The King loved LaSalle and called 
him a brave, loyal soldier. He listened with close atten- 
tion to LaSalle' s accounts of the Indians whom he 
wanted to make Christians and to his plan of adding 
to France such a wonderful country, with its rich 
lands and mighty rivers. 

LaSalle told the King of his hardships, the sick- 
ness and death of his men, but not once did he say he 
was discouraged or that he wanted to give up. This 
pleased the King and he said he would do everything 
that he could to assist LaSalle in carrying out his 
great purpose for France. 

The King made LaSalle a nobleman, gave him 
permission to control every bit of the great fur trade 
of Canada, and appointed him governor of all the lands 
that he might discover. 

LASALLE RETURNS TO AMERICA 

Very soon LaSalle was ready to return to the new 
country. Four ships were prepared for him: A man- 
of-war, the Joli (Zho'-le), the frigate Belle, a gift from 
the King to LaSalle, the Amiable (A-mia'-bl) and St, 




RENE-ROBERT CAVELIER DE LA SALLE. 



A Brave Soldier of France 43 

Francis, supply ships, which carried food, clothing and 
goods for trading with the Indians. 

Fifty soldiers, twelve families, with priests and 
some young gentlemen adventurers set sail from Ro- 
chelle, July 24, 1684. An accident happened to the 
Joli and she had to return to Rochelle to be repaired, 
so the final start was not made until August. 

The sea was very rough, and after the first few 
days, which were full of excitement and wonder, some 
of the men grew discontented and were very disagreea- 
ble. The naval commander. Captain Beaujeu (Bo'-zhu), 
had a quarrel with LaSalle which became more and more 
serious as the journey advanced. Troubles came fast, 
the *S^. Francis, a slow sailer, was captured by a Spanish 
ship, and the rest of the fleet was delayed at the West 
Indies. LaSalle had a long and dangerous illness, and 
others were ill from the changes in the climate, but 
finally in spite of all of their troubles the fleet entered 
the Gulf of Mexico. 

As they journeyed further and further along the 
coast, the men looked daily for the mouth of the great 
river, but they saw nothing which led them to 
believe they were near it. Discontent was in many 
hearts, and LaSalle's troubles seemed to be without 
end. 

One day one of the men saw an opening in the 
coast line. The w^ater between the points of the opening 
was muddy, and LaSalle thought he had at last reached 
the '' Father of Waters." But he was mistaken, he had 



44 Texas Heroes 

gone too far to the westward, and was sailing along the 
coast of what we now call Texas. 

LASALLE TOUCHES TEXAS COAST 

At a number of points LaSalle tried to land but 
was kept out by sand bars and breakers. As he sailed 
to the westward, he looked at the broad, grass-covered 
country, and he remembered that he had seen nothing 
like it along the " Father of Waters," in the country he 
had named Louisiana. He became frightened, for he 
was afraid that he and those who looked to him for pro- 
tection were lost. 

When he had sailed five hundred miles too far to 
the westward he turned and sailed eastward, and think- 
ing he had surely reached the western mouth of the 
" Father of Waters," entered Pass Cavallo (Ca-va'-yo) 
on San Bernardo Bay or Matagarda Bay, landing Feb- 
ruary 16, 1685. 

TRIALS OF LASALLE 

Many things occurred to try his brave spirit, and 
if he had been less a man he would have given up in 
despair. Soon after he landed, he watched from the 
shore the Amiable, which carried the food, ammunition, 
clothing, tools, and medicine, run aground. This 
happened through the bad management of Captain 
Beaujeu who missed no opportunity to provoke 
LaSalle. Though the vessel could not be floated, 
the Indians brought a portion of the supplies to the 
shore in small boots, but in the night a storm completely 
destroyed the vessel. In all of these unforeseen trials 



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A Brave Soldier of France 47 

LaSalle did not lose hope but worked away undaunted. 

There was no food, and no water except that from 
the bay. There was sickness in the camp. Men 
were dying each day, and the Indians, who were at first 
friendly, now plundered the camp every night. 

Beaujeu, who now openly refused to obey LaSalle, 
made up his mind to return to France, and could not 
be persuaded to remain. LaSalle had no men to spare, 
but Beaujeu persuaded forty to return to France with 
him. They sailed on the Joli, the best of the re- 
maining vessels, with all of the ammunition and most 
of the food, leaving only the Belle to LaSalle and his 
disheartened men. 

LASALLE DISCOVERS THE LAVACA RIVER 

There was one man in camp, J out el (Zhoo-teF), upon 
whom LaSalle could always depend. So, leaving Joutel 
in charge of the camp, he took a few of the well-armed 
men to the head of the bay where they found a river 
coming in from the north. LaSalle thought that surely 
this must be one of the mouths of the ''Father of 
Waters." But as he went up the river, instead of its 
growing wider, it grew narrower, its waters became 
clear, and instead of the tall trees along the bank, 
there were miles and miles of grass-covered land, with- 
out any trees, and hundreds of buffalo were roaming 
over the land. LaSalle saw that it was not the Missis- 
sippi River, so he named it '' LaVaca " or Cow river, 
from the buffalo cows which he found near it. 



48 Texas Heroes 

FORT ST. LOUIS 

When LaSalle returned to camp he found that his 
men were rebelhous, and angry with him for bringing 
them to such a desolate place. They were quarreling 
among themselves, and had even plotted to murder 
the faithful Joutel. The Indians kept up their nightly 
raids. 

Nevertheless LaSalle selected a place on the La 
Vaca river for a fort, and gave orders that all of the 
women and children should be moved there. 

As there were no oxen to haul the wood and no 
carpenters among the men, the fort was erected under 
many difficulties. It included a cellar, a chapel, a 
number of rooms, large and small, towers at each of 
the four corners, and openings in the walls to place the 
cannon to keep the Indians away. LaSalle named the 
fort '' St. Louis " in honor of the King of France. 

No sooner had LaSalle founded Fort St. Louis 
than he started out again to hunt once more for the 
" Father of Waters." This time he started October 
31, 1685, with as many men as could be spared from 
the fort. After weeks of wandering through swamp 
and forest, without food, water or clothes, the few men 
found their way sorrowfully back to the fort. 

While LaSalle was away, the Belle, while going 
across the bay, was lost somewhere near Dog Island. 
After her loss, there was no possible means of leaving the 
coast. Men, women and children had died, and LaSalle, 
now that all hope seemed gone, became dangerously 



A Brave Soldier of France 49 

ill, lying in an unconscious condition for many days. 
After long days and nights of suffering he started for 
the northeast with his nephew Moranget (Mo-ran'-zha), 
his brother and eighteen others, again leaving the 
faithful Joutel in charge. 

Their first stop was on the Trinity River, at a Cenis 
(Sa'-nees) Indian village. The Indians were very kind 
and LaSalle enjoyed a good rest. 

After many experiences, much sickness, and endless 
wandering, eight only of the heartsick explorers re- 
turned to Fort St. Louis. 

It was no time now to talk about finding the 
*' Father of Waters." Words of cheer and hope meant 
nothing to the crushed, starved, unhappy men and 
women who had remained faithful. 

LASALLE STARTS TO CANADA 

LaSalle's mind was upon saving these faithful 
friends, so, after providing the best that he could for 
the sufferers in the fort, on January 12, 1687, he left 
Fort St. Louis, and started for Canada, taking half of 
the men with him. 

In his party were his brother, his nephew. Father 
Anastase (A-na-stas'), a faithful priest, a surgeon, Jou- 
tel, and two Indian servants. 

Over the prairies they journeyed in a northeasterly 
direction, reaching a point near where the town of 
Navasota, in Grimes County, now stands. Here a 
quarrel which had been brewing some time came to a 
head. Two of his men had made up their minds 



50 Texas Heroes 

that the}^ would kill LaSalle, for they hated him and 
did not like his plans. Their plot was to kill LaSalle's 
nephew, Moranget, and then LaSalle, and this scheme 
of murder they carried out. Moranget and the two 
Indian guides were killed while they slept. 

MURDER OF LASALLE 

• As soon as Moranget was missed, LaSalle, Father 
Anastase and an Indian guide started to find him. 
The two assassins, who lay hidden behind a log, am- 
bushed and killed LaSalle. Shot in the head and chest, 
LaSalle fell May the nineteenth, 1687. The body of 
the bold explorer was stripped and left for food for the 
wild animals of the forest. 

Though LaSalle did not reach the Mississippi to 
found an empire in the name of the mighty King of 
France, he laid the foundation of the great work which 
was to follow, for he was the first white man to make a 
settlement in Texas. 



THE PIONEER 

The pioneer is the man who goes before, looks be- 
yond, counts the cost, and then takes the fi^^st step in 
settHng an untried and unknown country. This man 
must have faith in his own purpose, and he must be a 
leader of men, for the success of the pioneer shapes 
history. 

Moses Austin came to Texas when it was a new, un- 
known country of lonesome plains and forests. It was 
inhabited by Indians. He had purpose in his heart. 
He knew what he wanted to do. He was not afraid. 
He knew how to make other men feel an interest in 
whatever interested him, and this is valuable knowl- 
edge. 

Moses Austin w^as born at Durham, Connecticut, in 
1764. For many years, he carried on a successful mer- 
cantile business in Philadelphia, and later he owned a 
large business in Richmond Virginia. 

In the part of the United States where Austin lived, 
wonderful accounts were told of the wealth in the west. 
He heard of the mines where precious metals could be 
found if men would just go out to that part of the 
country and dig in the mines long enough. Austin 
heard a great deal about the lead mines in Missouri, 

51 



52 Texas Heroes 

so he made up his mind to go to Missouri where he 
thought he could make a fortune. 

It was hard for him to break up his home ties and go 
to a new country where every man was a stranger. But 
Austin decided to go and, with his family and ser- 
vants, crossed the mountains of Virginia in carriages 
and wagons, for there was no other way to travel in 
those days. They reached the western country 
safely, and Moses Austin laid the foundation of what 
is now Washington County, Missouri. 

The Governor of Louisiana, Baroii Carondolet (Ba-ra' 
Ca-ron'-du-la) helped Austin to obtain a portion of the 
lead mines of Potosi, located about forty miles west of 
St. Genevieve. He carried on a successful business, for 
he was honest and upright, and he thought it would 
not be long before he could make a fortune. 

The Austins had a beautiful home in Missouri called 
Durham Hall, where they entertained their friends 
in a royal manner. A number of their friends in Vir- 
ginia followed them to the new country, and when they 
arrived at Durham Hall they were made welcome, 
and they, too, decided to make their homes in Missouri. 

Austin's fortune grew far beyond what he had hoped 
and he became the owner of much valuable property. 
But when his success was at its height a very unex- 
pected thing happened. The Bank of Missouri failed 
and he lost a large part of his fortune. One loss fol- 
lowed another, and his fortune melted away more 
rapidly than it had come together. Austin became 



The Pioneer 53 

discouraged and decided to look for a still newer country. 
He often advised with and consulted his son, Stephen 
F. Austin, whom he could depend upon in business 
matters and who, his father thought, had good judg- 
ment. The two talked over a plan to take a colony to the 
Spanish province, Texas, in which plan Stephen took 
a lively interest. Without delay, Moses Austin began 
arrangements to visit Texas and ask permission to es- 
tablish a colony. 

MOSES AUSTIN COMES TO TEXAS 

In 1820, when Moses Austin went to San Antonio, 
the capital of the Mexican province, Texas, he went to 
see Governor Martinez (Mar-tee'-nez). The Governor 
had been instructed by the Spanish government au- 
thorities that if Americans entered Texas they should 
be put in prison. So he was rude to Austin who had 
called upon important business. He had no time to 
see him and at last ordered him to leave. 

The Governor's house in San Antonio was surrounded 
by a beautiful garden, and as Austin, hurt at the 
Governor's harsh words and disappointed at the failure 
of his well-laid plan, walked slowly through the garden, 
trying to plan what he should do next, he met Baron 
de Bastrop (Bii-ra' du Bas'-tro). He had known the 
Baron some years before in the United States. Baron de 
Bastrop was a Prussian who had served in the army of 
Frederick the Great, and at this time he was in the service 
of Mexico as one of the alcaldes of San Antonio. He was 
glad to see Austin and to hear about his plan to bring a 



54 Texas Heroes 

colony to Texas, He was sorry to learn how badly the 
Governor had treated Austin after he had made the 
long journey to see him. 

The Baron went at once to see the Governor and did 
not leave him until he had agreed to let Austin come 
back and tell him more of his colonization plan. 

This time the Governor listened to all that Austin 
had to say and, at the last, he became interested in the 
plan. He told Austin that he would help him in every 
way that he could. Kind, good Baron de Bastrop then 
obtained permission from the Mexican government at 
Monterey for Austin to bring three hundred families 
to Texas. The Baron had no trouble in obtaining this 
permission for Austin because, in 1798, when Spain 
owned the Louisiana Territory, Moses Austin had be- 
come a Spanish subject. This made him free from 
the law which said that '' foreigners could not settle in 
1 exas. 

Austin returned to his home in Missouri to make 
arrangements to bring out his colony. On the way he 
met one trial after another. The country from San 
Antonio to the Sabine river, on account of the Gacliu- 
pin (Ga-chu'-peen) War, was almost cleared of inhabi- 
tants. As he crossed this distance, most of the time 
more than two hundred miles from any kind of a settle- 
ment, he was robbed and cruelly deserted by his com- 
panions. 

Alone, wandering for weeks in a worn-out, enfeebled 
condition, he at last reached the McGafiin settlement 



The Pioneer 55 

on the Sabine river. Here he rested for the first time 
in many weeks and regained some of his lost strength. 

When he at last reached his home in Missouri, where 
he was received with great rejoicing, he was broken 
down in health from the hardships of the journey. His 
brave spirit was unbroken, however, and he was more 
determined than ever to colonize Texas. 

In the spring of 1821, he began active preparations 
to come on to Texas. But his strength of heart, his faith 
in his plan, and his hope for the new colony could not 
stop the disease which was slowly but surely coming 
upon him. Long nights in rain and snow, weeks with- 
out proper food, deep worry, and one disappointment 
after another, brought his useful, courageous life to a 
close on June the tenth, 1821, in the fifty-seventh year 
of his age. 

A short time before he died he received an important 
letter from the Spanish government. This letter stated 
that his application for permission to bring a colony of 
Americans to Texas had received all of the endorse- 
ment that was required, and he would be welcome 
whenever he should arrive. 

Before death took him away, he told those at his 
bedside that his greatest desire was that his son, Ste- 
phen Fuller Austin, should colonize the province, Texas. 
He said he wanted his son to carry out the plan they 
had made together. 

The father began the work of the pioneer, the re- 
maining hardships, trials and victories were to be the 



56 Texas Heroes 

like work of the son. What the father had begun, the 
son was to finish. 























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STEPHEN F. AUSTIN. 



THE FATHER OF TEXAS 

Stephen Fuller Austin, was bom at Austinville, near 
New River, Wythe County, Virginia, November the 
third, 1793. He was taught from the time he was a 
little boy to depend upon himself and not to ask any- 
body to do for him what he could do for himself. 
When he was only eleven years of age he was sent to 
school at Colchester Academy, in Connecticut, where 
he remained one year. Then he was sent to New 
London Academy, where he remained three years, and 
later to Transylvania University, Kentucky, where 
for two years he did fine work. 

Very soon after he left the University he was elected 
a member of the Legislature of the Territory of Mis- 
souri, from Washington County, where he lived. 

His father, Moses Austin, because of the failure of 
the bank of Missouri, lost the money that for many 
years he had been saving. He went to the Mexican 
province, Texas, to see the Governor about taking a 
colony there. Stephen Austin entered with much- 
spirit into this colonization scheme and he felt an in- 
terest in everything that might help the new colony. 
He bought a small farm at Long Prairie on the Red 
River, in Arkansas Territory, to be used as a resting 

59 



60 Texas Heroes 

place and gathering point for the colonists as they 
made their way to Texas. 

In 1819, while Stephen F. Austin was at Long Prairie, 
he was appointed Judge in the Arkansas Territory. 
The next year he went down to New Orleans to learn 
the best ways by which his colonists could enter Texas, 
and to study the laws of colonization, 

AUSTIN MEETS DON ERASMO SEGUIN 

In June, 1821, Austin received a letter from Natch- 
toches (Nack'-i-tosh), Louisiana, telling him that Don 
Erasmo Seguin (Don A-ras'-mo Se-geen'), whom Gov- 
ernor Martinez (Mar-tee'-nez), had sent to escort his 
father's colony to Texas, had arrived there and was wait- 
ing for the colony to arrive. Austin went at once to 
Natchitoches to meet Seguin and waited there some 
days hoping to hear from his father, but, receiving no 
news, he started with Seguin to Texas. 

Before they crossed the Sabine river, Austin heard 
that letters for him had arrived at Natchitoches, and he 
hastily returned to receive them. These letters brought 
the sad news that his father, Moses Austin, had died 
and that his last words were that his son, Stephen F. 
Austin, should carry out his plan of colonizing Texas. 

Austin was deeply grieved to receive this news just 
as he was starting on his important journey, but he 
said he would go right on and give his best strength 
and service to the cause which lay so near his father's 
heart. He wanted to prove himself a worthy son of 
such a noble father and right there he gave his great 



The Father of Texas 61 

heart, talents and courage to the Hfe of Texas. Don 
Erasmo Seguin received him as the one who would take 
Moses Austin's place, and together they set out for 
Texas, crossing the Sabine river on July the sixteenth, 
and reaching the Guadalupe on August the tenth, 1821. 

AUSTIN ARRIVES AT SAN ANTONIO 

When Austin arrived at San Antonio, Governor 
Martinez made him feel welcome, and told him to se- 
lect the location that he liked most as a home for his 
colony. After Austin had looked over the region he 
decided that the most beautiful location was the coun- 
try watered by the Brazos and the Colorado rivers. 
After selecting their home, Austin went to New Orleans 
to meet his colonists and bring them on to Texas. 

THE LIVELY 

Austin's friend, J. L. Hawkins, helped him fit out a 
small ship, the Lively. There were eighteen passengers, 
provisions and ammunition on the Lively, and she 
set sail for Texas October the twentieth, 1821. Austin 
told those in charge of the ship to go up the Colorado 
river until they found a good place for a settlement, 
where they must build their cabins and forts to defend 
themselves against the Indians. The Lively was 
never heard from, and unto this day her fate is not 
known. 

The day after the Lively sailed, Austin left New 
Orleans and went, by way of Natchitoches, Louisiana, 
to Matagorda Bay, where he expected to join those on 
board the Lively. 



62 Texas Heroes 

At Natchitoches, a large number of men, who had 
heard about Texas and her opportunities, joined him, 
along with others whom he had invited to come with 
him. With a considerable number Austin and his 
colony reached the mouth of the Colorado River. They 
searched long for the lost Lively and waited for her to 
come. Their despair at finding no trace of her can 
scarcely be imagined. When they realized that she 
was certainly lost they traveled to La Bahia (Goliad) 
where Austin was rejoiced to meet his brother, John 
Brown Austin, and the two, with a party of twenty 
men, went to San Antonio. 

AUSTIN GOES TO THE CITY OF MEXICO 

Since the time that Moses Austin had visited Gov- 
ernor Martinez, liurhide (E'-tor-bee-da), the Mexican 
ruler, had declared Mexican independence, and Gov- 
ernor Martinez was in doubt as to whether or not the 
new government would agree to the commission that 
Stephen Austin held to settle a colony. The Governor 
told Austin that the matter was very uncertain, and 
that he had better go in person to the City of Mexico, 
lay his plans before the authorities, and secure their 
full permission for him to settle his colony. 

Austin wanted to do all that he could for those who 
had come with him, and, fearing no danger or hardship, 
he left his colony in charge of Josiah Bell, and acted 
upon the Governor's advice by going in person to the 
City of Mexico. He traveled on foot. Some of the 
time he was dressed like a beggar, or a worn-out soldier, 



The Father of Texas 63 

and every day he met many dangers and had many 
narrow escapes from death. He saw crimes committed 
every day. He was lonesome, tired and hungry, but he 
had purpose in his heart and on he went, unafraid, 
never hesitating. 

Very soon after Austin reached the City of Mexico, 
Iturbide was made Emperor. The Mexican government 
was torn in pieces, the people were all dissatisfied, and 
there was much delay in all matters with which the 
government had to deal. 

A new colonization law was passed in 1823, and Aus- 
tin succeeded in his mission. But just as he was getting 
ready to return to his colony and carry out his plan for 
colonization, the Mexican government was all torn 
up again. Another revolution was on, and Austin was 
afraid to leave the Mexican capital for fear his rights 
as a colonist might be disputed, and that all of the try- 
ing work which he had done might be undone. He 
decided to wait a while longer to see what changes might 
take place. 

The changes took place almost at once. The Con- 
gress, or law-making body of Mexico, said that the 
making of Iturbide Emperor was an act of violence, 
therefore it could not stand. This Congress also said 
that the Acts of Government passed between May the 
nineteenth, 1822, and March the twenty-eighth, 1823, 
were all to be made over again. These changes proved 
that Austin was wise in waiting. 

With his usual prompt way of doing things, he went 



64 Texas Heroes 

at once to see the authorities of the new government, 
but his request in regard to setthng a colony in Texas 
was referred to the highest power of the government. 

This power, called the executive power, agreed to all 
of the privileges that had been given to Austin, and a 
copy of the decree, naming these privileges, was pre- 
sented to Austin on April the fourteenth, 1823. 

During this year that he was absent from his colony 
he learned to speak the Spanish language, he learned 
many things about the laws of Mexico and the customs 
of the people. He made friends among the men of 
Mexico who liked his straight-forward, outspoken 
manner, and believed what he told them. 

AUSTIN RETURNS TO HIS COLONY 

On April the eighteenth, 1823, Austin started for 
Texas. He stopped at Monterey where he received from 
the Commanding General of the department which in- 
cluded Texas the rank of Colonel, which gave him the 
right to make war against the Indians. He also re- 
ceived permission to bring supplies into Texas by way 
of Galveston, and instructions to report all of the 
happenings of his colony to the Governor of the Prov- 
ince of Texas. 

In company with his father's good friend, Baron de 
Bastrop (Ba-ra' du Bas'-tro), he arrived in Texas in 
July, 1823. The colonists were rejoiced to receive their 
beloved leader, and the great number of them had 
remained faithful, doing all within their power to build 
up the settlement. A few had grown disheartened and 



The Father of Texas 65 

returned to the United States and some had found 
homes in other portions of Texas. Don Lueiana Garcia, 
who had been elected Governor of Texas to succeed 
Governor Martinez, helped Austin in many ways and 
took much interest in the growing colony. 

Governor Garcia named the capital of the colony 
San Felipe de Austin (San Fe'-lee-pa da Austin) in 
Austin's honor, and appointed Austin '' Empresario " 
(Em-pre-sar'-ee-o), which office gave him power over 
the people. This power Austin used with gentleness 
and kindness. 

In 1825, when San Felipe de Austin had become the 
center of a thriving, busy settlement, Austin received 
permission to bring five hundred families to increase 
his colony. Very soon the people of the United States, 
who had heard of the prosperous colony, came in large 
numbers to Texas, and the towns of Columbia, Bra- 
zario, Gonzales, San Augustine and Victoria, became 
good, strong settlements. 

FIRST SOUND OF WAR 

Though the settlement at San Felipe de Austin was 
peaceful and happy, homes were being built and farm 
lands being cultivated, and though the Mexican Gov- 
ernor, Garcia, had been kind to Austin and his colonists, 
every now and then the colonists were reminded that 
danger was near at hand. Mexico passed a very strict 
law which would not allow any more colonists to come 
to Texas from the United States 

The Texans called a convention to meet at San Felipe 



66 Texas Heroes 

de Austin in April, 1833, to decide just what they had 
better do. This convention is known as the second 
convention at San Fehpe de Austin. 

The Texans, at this corbvention, talked about how 
shamefully they were being treated by the Mexican 
government, and how helpless they were to protect 
themselves or their homes. Many of the members of 
the convention, brave, fearless men, made strong 
speeches. Some of the delegates to the convention 
were David G. Burnet, Sam Houston, Dr. Branch T. 
Archer, J. B. Miller, and Stephen F. Austin. 

The convention decided to send a request, called a 
memorial, to the Mexican government, asking that 
their harsh, unnecessary laws, under which the Texans 
had been so cruelly treated, should be repealed, and 
that kinder, easier laws should be made. W. H. Whar- 
ton, J. B. Miller, and Stephen F. Austin were selected 
by the convention to present this request to the govern- 
ment of Mexico. 

AUSTIN JOURNEYS A SECOND TIME TO THE CITY OF MEXICO 

Austin, having made this journey once before, knew 
all of the dangers, trials and hardships, but when his 
people looked to him for aid and depended upon him, 
with full knowledge of the dangers that he would meet 
on the way, he made the journey, and made it alone. 

After the long, tedious journey, during which the 
dangers of the first journey were repeated, he arrived 
at the Mexican capital, and immediately sought an 
interview with Farias (Fa-ree'-as), the Vice President, 



The Father of Texas 67 

who had charge of the government. But Farias was 
too busy to see the brave, unselfish Texas colonist. 
Excuse after excuse was sent to Austin by Farias, and 
not until Lorenzo de Zavala (Lo-ren'-so da Sa-va'-la), 
later a friend to the Texas patriots, kindly assisted 
Austin in the important matter of going before Farias 
with his request, did Austin succeed in telling him of 
the conditions in his colony. 

Austin told Farias that if Mexico did not repeal her 
cruel laws and cease her oppression, Texas would take 
charge of her own affairs. 

He sent a letter giving an account of this visit to 
Farias to the authorities in San Antonio, adding that 
he thought it would not be long before Texas would 
have to prepare for a government of her own. 

The San Antonio authorities were angry when they 
received this letter and sent it at once to Farias. 
He sent officers to arrest Austin, who had already left 
the city on his way to Texas. 

AUSTIN IN A MEXICAN PRISON 

Four months in a Mexican prison, without light or 
fresh air, followed for Austin. He was then removed to 
another prison, where he was treated more kindly, and 
where a good priest. Father Muldoon (Mul'-doon), 
visited him and carried him books to read. 

All of this time Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, 
had been thinking out a scheme by which he might 
make himself Dictator. When he took up his duties 
again as President, the Texas matter came up. 



68 Texas Heroes 

Our good friend, De Zavala, again aided Austin, who 
went before Santa Anna and pleaded that the cruel 
laws might be repealed. He asked Santa Anna if Texas 
might not be separated from Coahuila (Co-a-wee'-la), 
as the affairs of that Mexican state were always in a 
disturbed condition, and this made it hard to keep the 
affairs of Texas in order. Santa Anna told Austin that 
he did not think Texas was strong enough to be a sepa- 
rate state. Austin told him that Texas could take care 
of herself without any assistance from Mexico. Austin 
was sent back to prison, and later when Santa Anna 
realized that Texas would not endure the cruelty of the 
Mexican laws, he said he would have to conquer her, 
and the sooner the better. 

REVOLUTION 

After a terrible two years of prison life, disappointed 
and heartsick, Austin found his way back to his people, 
who were thankful for his safe return. He gave his 
own means to the equipment of the Texas soldiers, who 
were restless and eager to take up arms to resist Mexico. 

The first fight occurred at Gonzales, October the 
second, 1835, where the Texans lost one man and the 
Mexicans four killed and many wounded. 

Though his health was broken, Austin entered active 
army service, and on October the eleventh, 1835, he 
was elected commander-in-chief of the army of the 
people. After organizing the army, he marched to San 
Antonio, the Mexican stronghold, to which place Mexi- 
can soldiers had been sent to take the arms away from 



The Father of Texas 69 

the Texans. On October the ninth the Texans cap- 
tured GoHad, and on October the twenty-eighth, at 
the battle of Concepcion (Con-sep'-si-6n), penned up 
the Mexicans, under General Cos (Cos), in San Antonio. 
Austin, with many of the citizens of Texas, favored 
the organization of a provisional government, among 
the soldiers in the army and those who remained at 
home. A general meeting was held on November 
the third, 1835, to consider all matters that pertained 
to the welfare of Texas. This meeting was called a 
''consultation" and its purpose was to organize a 
" provisional government." Dr. Archer, William H. 
Wharton and Stephen F. Austin were appointed com- 
missioners to the United States to secure aid and sup- 
plies. This provisional government appointed Henry 
Smith Governor, J. W. Robinson Lieutenant Governor, 
and Sam Houston Commander of the army. In order 
to go to the United States Austin withdrew from the 
army. Before he started on his important journey to 
the United States he urged the soldiers not to give up 
the siege of San Antonio. General Edward Burleson 
was elected to command the troops there. 

AUSTIN GOES TO THE UNITED STATES 

The object of the commissioners in going to the 
United States was to procure men, arms, and all sup- 
plies, and to place before the United States the matter 
of the independence of Texas or her annexation as a 
state to the United States. Austin spoke eloquently 
for Texas at Louisville, Kentucky, gaining both sym- 



70 Texas Heroes 

pathy and assistance. He asked and received assist- 
ance at New York, Cincinnati, Nashville and Mobile. 
Two loans were contracted at New Orleans, amounting 
to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which loans 
Austin pledged his private fortune to meet. 

Austin wrote to General Houston from Washington 
in May, 1836: ''I am of the opinion that our inde- 
pendence, if properly asked for, will be acknowledged, 
and that Texas will be admitted into the United States." 

He was right, for the independence of Texas was 
acknowledged the following year, and she was later 
admitted as a State. 

When the time came to elect a President of the Re- 
public of Texas, Austin, because of his unchanging, 
glorious service, was spoken of by many of the people 
as the man, of all men, who should have that honor. 
But the soldiers who had shared the victory of San 
Jacinto with General Houston wanted to make him 
President. General Houston was, therefore, elected 
President and Stephen F. Austin was appointed Secre- 
tary of State in President Houston's cabinet. 

THE CAPITAL OF TEXAS IS NAMED FOR AUSTIN 

Austin continued to work with a will for Texas, until 
he was seized with an attack of pneumonia, from which 
he passed away on December the twenty-seventh, 1836, 
at the age of forty-three years, mourned by every man, 
woman and child in Texas. Austin's remains were 
laid to rest at Peach Point, Brazaria County, where 
they rested until October the eighteenth, 1910, when. 



The Father of Texas 71 

in accord with an act of the Texas Legislature and with 
the permission of his relatives, they were removed to 
the State Cemetery at Austin. 

The Texas legislature has appropriated ten thousand 
dollars to place an appropriate monument over the 
grave of Stephen F. Austin, and Governor O. B. 
Colquitt has appointed a committee to decide upon 
the design of this monument. 

Austin was never married, and he gave his talents, 
energy, service, fortune, and, at last, his health, all for 
Texas. The capital of Texas is named for him and 
he is lovingly called '* The Father of Texas." 



THE FIGHTING DEVIL 

The Indians so feared James Bowie that he could 
travel over the country a distance of six hundred 
miles and never see one. When the Indians knew he 
was coming they would fly to the wilderness to hide 
behind big trees. This always disappointed Bowie 
because he loved to find and to fight them, and either 
kill them or send them away where they could not take 
life or destroy property. 

A great many accounts have been written about 
Bowie, making him out a rough, fierce sort of man, a 
kind of desperado, but these accounts are not fair to 
him. He was a manly man, true to his friends and 
true to his country, and always ready to stand up for 
the right. 

James Bowie was born in Elliott Springs, Tennessee. 
He moved with his parents when he was very young to 
Louisiana, and the family afterwards settled on a 
plantation near Natchez, Mississippi. 

He was full of life and spirit and loved an adventure. 
When he heard about Texas, the untried country, 
not so very far away from him, where there might be 
both gold and silver mines, he decided to go to see it. 

72 




JAMES BOWIE. 

(From painting in State Capitol.) 



The Fighting Devil 75 

He came as a general trader, buying and selling horses 
and mules and sometimes slaves. 

He was usually willing to risk his life to carry out 
what he thought was right, and his friends said that 
nothing in the world could frighten him. 

Bowie. was a great lover of games of chance that were 
played so much in the Mississippi valley, and he often 
gave his winnings to some poor person or to some un- 
fortunate friend. 

He loved the wild woods, the running water, the 
lonely trails, and he was an energetic hunter. Once 
while he was recovering from a wound, he cut from a 
piece of pine a great big knife, and when he got well he 
gave it to the blacksmith to use as a model for a sure 
enough knife. His object was to make a knife that 
would be quick in sticking and skinning game. This 
knife is still known as the Bowie knife. 

It was about the year 1828 that James and Resin P. 
Bowie came to Texas to make it their home, though they 
had, before this time, made two short visits to Texas. 
James Bowie had married a beautiful young woman, 
daughter of Lieutenant Governor Veramendi (Va-ra- 
men'-dee), of Louisiana. His wife and two children 
died with cholera about the year 1834. After this 
great sorrow Bowie became a sad and quiet man, and 
he tried to comfort every one who was in trouble. 

In November, 1831, while on his way from San An- 
tonio to the old San Saba silver mines, James Bowie's 
first action in Texas took place. Bowie, his brother 



76 Texas Heroes 

Resin, and a few friends had learned from two friendly 
Comanches and a Mexican that they were being fol- 
lowed by a large band of Waco, Tehuacana (Te-wa'-ka- 
na), and Caddo Indians who wanted their scalps. 

Bowie and his companions camped for the night in a 
grove of large trees, near a stream of water, protected 
by a thicket and deep underbrush. They cleared the 
thicket, put their horses into the cleared place and 
waited for the Indians. At sunrise the Indians came 
and the battle began. Nine white men and two boys 
fought one hundred and sixty-four Indians. Until 
sunset the next day the fighting continued, and some- 
times the Indians seemed to have the best of it, but 
at last, howling and shrieking like wild animals, the 
Indians ran away. 

Bowie lost one man killed and three wounded, but 
the Indians lost eighty-two men killed and wounded. 

BOWIE MARCHES TO THE RIO GRANDE 

On August the second, 1832, the battle of Nacog- 
doches was fought. Colonel Piedras (Pe-a'-dras), the 
Mexican officer in command, surrendered to only nine- 
teen men and boys at the Angelina river the morning 
of August the fourth. When Bowie arrived Piedras 
was marched back to Nacogdoches and paroled, while 
Bowie marched with six hundred Mexican soldiers to 
the Rio Grande. This distance, about five hundred 
miles, held no sign of habitation except a cabin at 
Bastrop and a cabin on the Brazos. 

Bowie had not forgotten how the Indians fought him 



The Fighting Devil 77 

at San Saba, so later in the year 1832 he organized a 
company to fight them. From San Antonio he jour- 
neyed to the Indian's chief villages on the Brazos. 
When the Indians heard that the " Fighting Devil " 
was after them, they could not run fast enough, and 
not one could be found in the wilderness. Among the 
Indians Bowie was known as the " Fighting Devil." 

" CONCEPCION " 

In 1835, James Bowie joined the Texas army at Gon- 
zales, under General Stephen F. Austin. From the 
Texas camp on the Salado (Sa-la'-do), Austin sent 
Bowie and Fannin with ninety-two men to select a 
camp ground. 

While they were resting over night in their camp in 
front of the abandoned Mission Concepcion (Con-sep'- 
si-on) in a bend of the Colorado River, October the 
twenty-eighth, they were attacked by four hundred 
Mexicans. The Texans, protected by the river bank, 
in a short, rapid action sent the Mexicans flying to the 
shelter of the city leaving many dead and wounded. 
The Texans lost one man killed, Richard Andrews. 

Bowie also took part in the " Grass fight " near San 
Antonio, November the twenty-sixth, when the Mexi- 
cans were driven head-long, pell-mell into San Antonio. 

BOWIE MAKES A SPEECH 

A provisional government had been founded at 
San Felipe, and as Bowie had no regular command and 
wanted to be of service, he offered his service to the 
new government. He asked permission to raise and 



78 Texas Heroes 

command a force but, as many affairs occupied the 
government about this time, the permission was not 
granted at once. Bowie decided not to wait, but 
to go in person to the seat of government and ask 
if he might raise and command a force. 

When he appeared before the Council, tall, straight, 
and unafraid, and tried to speak to the President of 
the body, cries of '' Order ! Order !" were heard all over 
the house. Bowie stood, his broad hat in his hand, 
strength and strong will in his face, until Lieutenant 
Governor James W. Robinson, a wise and good man, 
also a man of quick wit, saw that Bowie had something 
very important to say. He told the Council that a 
man as courageous as Colonel Bowie would certainly be 
allowed to address the Council. 

This was Bowie's first and last speech, and it was 
wonderful in many respects. In plain, simple words, 
he told about how he loved Texas and how he had come 
to cast his lot with the Texans. He said in all of his 
life he had never had a difficulty except to protect the 
weak against the strong, or from those in the wrong. 

He told them how his dear wife and little ones had 
been taken from him. He told them that he was alone 
in the world, and that all he asked was permission to 
serve with the brave and true in saving beautiful Texas 
from Mexico's harsh treatment. His speech showed 
that he knew all about the conditions in Texas, and 
his listeners felt his strength and high purpose. 

Bowie, sure that his request would be granted, left 



The Fighting Devil 79 

at once for San Antonio. In a short time he became 
seriously ill and lay in a little, dark, cell-shaped room 
in the Alamo. He was here when the Alamo was 
attacked March the sixth, 1836. 

Bowie was perhaps the last of the Texans to give 
his life in the seige. From that little room, ere he gave 
his life for Texas, he sent death to many Mexicans. 
With those of his comrades, his body was burned in the 
presence of Santa Anna. 



THE HERO OF SAN ANTONIO 

Some men have the abihty to draw men to them, to 
make men beheve in them and trust them, and their 
very presence seems to make men courageous and 
strong. 

Benjamin R. Milam was one of these men. He had 
power with men, for he made them know that he was 
right. Men coukl depend upon what he said, and they 
felt safe to follow where he led. 

Though Ben Milam was not afraid to fight Indians 
and Mexicans, and could rush into the thickest, fiercest 
battle, he was gentle and tender-hearted Little chil- 
dren understood him and loved him. Gentleness and 
kindness of heart seem to be a part of all great lives. 

Benjamin R. Milam was a native of Kentucky, called 
at the time of his birth "the dark and bloody ground." 
He was born about the year 1790. He fought in the 
war between the United States and England, called 
the War of 1812, and after the close of this war he be- 
came a successful Indian trader in Texas on the head 
waters of the Colorado River. He was very successful 
for he knew how to get along with the Indians. 

In 1819, he organized an expedition in New Orleans 
for the capture of Tampico. Iturbide (E '-tor-bee-da), 

80 




BENJAMIN R. MILAM. 



The Hero of San Antonio 83 

a bold, overbearing Mexican leader, proclaimed him- 
self Emperor of Mexico, and Milam joined the men 
who were opposed to him, those men who were fighting 
for their liberty. Because of this, the men who favored 
Iturbide, who were the larger number, put Milam in 
prison, where he remained a year. He was not released 
until there was an uprising among the people. 

For his service given in Mexico to the Republican 
cause, he received one league of land, which was later 
increased to eleven. But this land was located so far to 
the east that when the Texas boundary line was drawn 
it was found that Milam's land was in Arkansas. 

In 1828, Milam tried to bring people from the old 
States to settle on the Red River, and at his invitation a 
good many people came to Texas and settled along the 
Red River. He next secured permission to settle the 
country at the head of the San Marcos River, but little 
was done to bring colonists here. He took part in the 
fight at Nacogdoches in 1832. 

In 1835, he obtained the right to make the Colorado 
River navigable, that is, to put it in a condition for ships 
to travel on it. 

The people of the Red River country were about to 
lose their land on account of the cruel Mexican rule. It 
was the time that the boundary line between the United 
States and Mexico was unsettled. They called upon 
Ben Milam to look into the matter for them. 

He was glad to be of service to the people. So in 
1835, he started alone on horseback through the wilder- 



84 Texas Heroes 

ness, depending largely upon his rifle to supply him with 
food, as he carried only a little dried beef and parched 
meal in his saddle bag. Between the Red River and 
the Rio Grande, San Antonio was practically the only 
place through which he passed. When he at last 
reached the seat of the Mexican government he received 
kind treatment from the Governor, who was willing to 
do what he could for him, but a revolution in Mexico 
was rapidly coming on. 

Santa Anna's schemes were gradually becoming clear 
to the Texans, and Milam, not afraid of any Mexican, 
or anybody else, said just exactly what he thought 
about Santa Anna and his schemes. The Mexican 
officers heard him and he was put in prison at Monterey. 
He made friends with the jailer, who, with the assistance 
of an outside friend, furnished a fast horse for Mila.m, 
and he rode away to Texas. Milam once told one of 
his friends that he had been held in every prison be- 
tween the City of Mexico and the Rio Grande. He 
arrived in Texas at a very important time, just after 
the skirmish at Gonzales. 

On October the ninth, 1835, Milam was cautiously 
traveling to the eastward, around Goliad, when he 
suddenly came upon Collingsworth's men. These men 
were volunteers from the lower Colorado, Lavaca 
and Navidad, who had been organized to capture 
Goliad. 

Milam thought at first that they were a band of 
Mexicans. But as he approached nearer he heard his 



The Hero of San Antonio 85 

own language spoken and found that he was at last 
among his friends. 

The Texans, who thought he had been killed, received 
him with great rejoicing. He mounted one of their 
horses and rode with them to Goliad. At a signal they 
attacked the stone church, which was fort as well as 
church, and in five minutes they were in possession, 
with three Mexicans dead and all of the others prisoners. 

THE SIEGE OF SAN ANTONIO 

After the storming of Goliad he joined the Texas 
army which, under General Burleson, was preparing 
to capture San Antonio, which city was in the hands of 
the Mexicans, under General Cos (Cos). The city was 
fortified with an army larger than all of the troops that 
the Texans could muster. 

The Texans wanted to take the city by storm but they 
saw that would mean certain and immediate death. 
When the Texan soldiers had grown faint hearted 
and it seemed that there was nothing to be done, and 
some of the soldiers were talking about disbanding the 
army, Ben Milam stepped out in front of the head- 
quarters in view of all of the men. 

He said, " Old Ben Milam is going to San Antonio 
and he wants volunteers to go with him. Let all who 
will go form a line here !" 

As one man the Texan soldiers rallied to him, shout- 
ing and cheering. During the night the Texans 
entered the city in three divisions. Though the Mexi- 



86 Texas Heroes 

cans had a large force, the Texans drove them from 
street to street and from house to house.. 

On the ninth of December, in the very moment of 
victory, while Milam was looking over the field with his 
glass, planning the last attack, he was struck in the 
head with a rifle ball, which killed him instantly. 

His body fell, but his fine brave spirit remained with 
his men. They carried out his plans by continuing the 
siege until the Mexican commander, General Cos, was 
forced to raise the white flag. 

Milam's body rested for a while in the yard of the 
Veramendi (Va-ra-men'-dee) house where he fell, and 
it was later removed to the cemetery in San Antonio. 
Texas wept when the news went abroad that brave Ben 
Milam had fallen. 



THE SIGN OF THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF 

A matchless patriot was James Butler Bonham who 
gave his life deliberately and calmly for the glory of 
his country. His heroism was personal and individual, 
and there are few parallel cases in the history of the 
world. Faithful until the moment of death ! What 
greater glory can a man have ? 

James Butler Bonham was born on Red Bank Creek, 
Edgefield County, South Carolina, February the 
twenty-seventh, 1807. His birthplace was only five 
miles from the birthplace of William B. Travis. Bon- 
ham was a bright boy, always in good humor, with a 
cheerful word for everybody. He studied well at school 
and loved history. When his school days were over 
he studied law, and in 1830 he was admitted to the bar. 

In 1834, he removed to Montgomery, Alabama, where 
he made many friends and was successful as a lawyer. 
Everybody said, " Bonham is certainly going to make 
a great and useful man." The people could not see 
then, however, the turn that his usefulness was going to 
take. 

In 1835, he began to hear about the troubles in Texas. 
He heard how cruelly the Mexicans were treating the 
people of Texas, how Texas was trying hard to defend 

87 



88 Texas Heroes 

herself, and how Mexico was doing her best to rob 
the Texans of their rights and Hberties. His hfe- 
time friend, Wilham B. Travis, had written to him 
of the beautiful land which he had found in Texas, and 
how he was going to fight for her. All of this stirred 
the soul of Bonham. In November, 1835, he gave up 
his fine prospects in Montgomery, his friends who were 
dear to him, and with faith in his purpose of helping 
the weak against the strong hurried to Texas. He had 
many kind letters from Alabama friends introducing him 
to General Houston, Governor Henry Smith and others. 
Governor Smith had sent Travis to take command at 
San Antonio. San. Antonio had been robbed of its 
military supplies and left without protection by a 
company of men, led by Johnson and Grant, on their 
way to take Matamoras. Bonham reached San An- 
tonio a little in advance of Travis, who was doing 
his best to organize his forces in order that he might 
hold the enemy in check until General Houston could 
organize a force strong enough to meet the enemy in 
the open field. Travis also hoped that Fannin, who 
held four hundred men at Goliad, would come to his 
relief. So he sent messengers to Fannin asking for aid. 
When no aid came in answer to these messages, and 
Santa Anna's forces had encircled Travis and his men 
in the Alamo, he sent the fearless Bonham to Fannin in 
a last appeal for assistance. He further instructed 
Bonham to go on from Goliad to Gonzales in search of 
men and arms. 



The Sign of the White Handkerchief 89 

Bonhani rode away on his cream-colored horse, with 
a white handkerchief floating from his broad-brimmed 
hat. This white handkerchief was the sign that Bon- 
ham and Travis had agreed upon, by which Travis 
should recognize Bonham when he rode at a distance. 

San Antonio was surrounded by Mexicans, and the 
entire route of his journey was filled with Indians. 
None but a very courageous man would ever have at- 
tempted such a dangerous, uncertain journey. 

Bonham, who knew not the meaning of danger, hur- 
ried on to Goliad where he delivered the message to 
Fannin, to which message Fannin did not respond. 

Bonham then, carrying out Travis' further instruc- 
tions, hastened on to Gonzales, just as a few volunteer 
soldiers were getting together there. 

A few days before Bonham's arrival. Captain Albert 
Martin, with thirty-two men of that colony, in response 
to Travis' call, had gone to the aid of the defender of 
the Alamo. When Bonham had delivered both mes- 
sages and secured all of the information possible, he 
returned to Travis. On his return journey he was ac- 
companied by John B. Smith. As the two approached 
San Antonio, from a hill top they could see the Alamo 
surrounded by Santa Anna's army, and Smith said 
to Bonham, '' It will be like taking our own lives to go 
on, for the doom of the Alamo is fixed; it is useless and 
foolish to go further." Bonham replied, "I will report 
the result of my mission to Travis or die in the attempt." 
(Smith reported this conversation after the fall of the 



90 Texas Heroes 

Alamo.) Travis had watched and waited all day for 
the sign of the white handkerchief. As Bonham rode 
up on his cream-colored horse, with the white handker- 
chief waving from his hat, he forced his way through 
the Mexican lines, with bullets and bayonets every- 
where. 

When Travis saw the faithful rider on the breathless 
steed, and recognized their sign, the gate of the Alamo 
flew wide open and Bonham entered, faithful to his 
trust. 

Such shouts and cheers from the Texans greeted his 
safe arrival, that, for a moment, the enemy ceased their 
death-dealing to look upon this brave man. 

Together, a few hours later, the life-long friends, 
Travis and Bonham reported to the great Commander 
of Armies. They, with their companions, Bowie, Crock- 
ett, Martin and others, gave their lives in the defense 
of Texas. 




DAVID CROCKETT. 

(From painting in State Capitol.) 



BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT, THEN GO AHEAD 

David Crockett was born August the seventeenth, 
1786, in Green County, Tennessee. His mother and 
father, who were very poor, lived far in the back woods. 
They were not able to send their six sons and three 
daughters to school or to give them much training of 
any kind. David was the fifth son. 

The Crocketts lived in a new, wild country, and the 
time which should have been given to tilling the soil 
and cutting down the tall trees to build homes was 
taken up in keeping the cunning Indians away. Many 
of David's boyhood days were spent in following the 
Indian trails. He would often wander, with his dog, 
many miles into the darkest woods and spend three or 
four days there, and he could swim the swiftest, deepest 
streams. He was a brave, strong, healthy boy; he 
loved to hunt more than anything in the world, and he 
was a successful hunter. There were times when his 
mother, brothers and sisters would have suffered for 
food had it not been for David's bringing home bear, 
deer, and wild turkeys. 

DAVID CROCKETT GOES TO WORK WITH A DUTCHMAN 

David's father told him he would have to go to work. 
So he put him to work with a Dutchman who was leav- 

93 



94 Texas Heroes 

ing Tennessee for Rockbridge County, Virginia. David 
started out on the long journey of more than four hun- 
dred miles on foot. He obeyed the Dutchman and 
was getting along very well. But one day, as he walked 
along by the side of the big covered wagon as it slowly 
found its way along the wooded road, he became 
very homesick and wanted to go back to his cabin 
home in Tennessee. He watched for the first wagon 
that was returning to Tennessee, and when one came 
along, he jumped into it, and begged the owner to take 
him home. 

His mother and father were glad to have their wild 
boy home again and they told him that he would have 
to go to the little mountain school. On the fourth day 
of school David whipped one of the boys older and larger 
than himself, and in order to avoid a whipping from the 
school-master and one from his father, he ran away. 

When he thought that the school-master and his 
father had had about enough time to forgive him, he 
returned to his home to receive again a joyful welcome. 

DAVID DECIDES TO GO TO SCHOOL 

David made up his mind that he had better go to 
school and try his best to learn something. He 
decided to try in every way that he could to improve 
his mind, not only in school but out of school. This 
decision he remembered all through his life. He had 
found out that a good many misfortunes can come to a 
man who is untrained in mind. 

So he went back to the little mountain school and 



Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead 95 

worked two days of the week to pay the tuition at 
school for the other three, and in six months he had 
learned to read, to spell, to add and subtract. This is 
every bit of the school opportunity that David Crockett 
ever received. 

While he was at school he adopted a little motto as 
his own, " Be sure you are right, then go ahead," and 
he lived very close to it. 

DAVID CROCKETT FIGHTS THE INDIANS 

In August, 1813, there was a terrible massacre by 
the Indians at Fort Minims. Crockett, after this awful 
deed, took up arms against the Indians, enlisting with 
the Tennessee soldiers, with General Andrew Jackson. 
His fellow^ soldiers loved him, and his life in the woods 
had made him familiar with the hiding places of the 
Indians. He was such a successful hunter that he kept 
the soldiers' camps supplied with game and bear meat. 

David Crockett had many narrow escapes, but he 
had a way of getting out of trouble, sometimes be- 
cause he was such a good shot, sometimes by his quick, 
ready speech, sometimes because he understood the 
Indian nature so well, but more often because he was 
naturally kind and wanted to help everybody that he 
could. 

DAVID LEARNS TO WRITE HIS NAME 

When the trouble with the Indians had ceased, David 
Crockett returned to his home to serve his people in 
time of peace. He was soon elected a magistrate and 



96 Texas Heroes 

later a " squire." Under the law all important orders 
had to be written, and David Crockett barely knew how 
to write his name. 

But he had a ready wit and he was a good squire 
even if he couldn't write his name. He told his assist- 
ant in his office that whenever a paper was brought in 
for him to sign, not to trouble him with it, but just to 
sign it for him. His assistant obeyed him, and when 
the papers were later brought to David's office to be 
put away, David would study his own name, and try 
over and over again to write it. Finally, he learned to 
write it very well. 

David Crockett was far too wise to let anybody find 
out what he did not know. He relied upon his own 
common sense and the common sense of others. 

He was elected to the Legislature and while he served 
he was faithful to the trust placed upon him. He fol- 
lowed the course which marked his life, coolness and 
deliberation, with good strong nerve, always sure of the 
right before he went ahead. 

DAVID CROCKETT GOES TO CONGRESS 

Crockett ran for Congress but was defeated the first 
time. The second time he ran he was elected, because 
he had made the people know that he was honest. 
Many who, in his first race, opposed him, in his second 
race were his strong friends. Never did any candidate 
for Congress do such strange and original work to secure 
votes. 

Full of fun, frolic, loved and loving, with a bright 



Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead 97 

smile and a kind word for everybody, David Crockett 
made a few speeches telling the people why they should 
send him to Congress. The men who were opposing 
him were men of learning who knew the law, and who 
made very fine, strong speeches. 

David listened to what they had to say and, in this 
way; learned much that otherwise he could not have 
known. When they had finished speaking, David 
would get up and tell the people a good, laughable story, 
and the people, who were tired of the long speeches 
would vote for him. 

In 1834, while he was a member of Congress, he 
made a visit to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York 
and Boston. In each of these cities he was entertained, 
and in Philadelphia he was presented with a fine rifle, 
Betsy ^ which was to accompany him on so many bear 
hunts. These visits and the kindness of the people 
whom he met taught him many things. 

At the next election for Congress, David Crockett 
was defeated, but it requires a defeat sometimes to 
accomplish great things. Had Crockett been re- 
elected to Congress from Tennessee, he could not have 
had the greater glory of fighting for Texas independ- 
ence. 

After his defeat, he sought other fields of usefulness 
and he made up his mind to cast his lot with the Texans 
who were fighting for their independence. 

DAVID CROCKETT COMES TO TEXAS 

Sure he was right, he started to Texas. As he ad- 



98 Texas Heroes 

vanced on his journey his enthusiasm in the cause of 
the Texans increased and he became deeply interested 
in the country over which he passed. Occasionally he 
would make a speech or tell a good story, and at Nachi- 
toches he persuaded a traveler to join him. Later he 
found another, and the three started on to Nacog- 
doches. Here he heard much of what the Texans were 





HUNTING THE BUFFALO* 

doing, and about how hard they were fighting for their 
liberty. It was liberty that David Crockett loved 
more than anything in the world. 

He found plenty of game, buffaloes, wolves, Mexican 
lions, and he made friends with a band of Comanche 
Indians who, for some distance, acted as his guide. 

*(Picture from Hitchcock's "Louisiana Purchase." Copyrighted by Ginn 
and Company. Used by permission.) 



Be Sure You're Right, Then Go Ahead 99 

He and his two companions put to flight a band of 
Mexicans. Each day until he reached San Antonio 
brought its own interesting experience. 

DAVID CROCKETT DIES AT THE ALAMO 

David Crockett arrived at the Alamo in February, 
1836, where he found Colonel William B. Travis in 
command with barely one hundred and fifty men, whose 
hearts were aflame for the liberty of Texas. On March 
the sixth he gave his life at the siege of the Alamo, to 
free Texas from Mexican oppression. By his lifeless 
body were found his coon-skin hunting cap and the 
faithful Betsy, shattered and broken. His fine, strong 
body was covered with the fringed hunting clothes 
that, through rain, mud and snow, he had worn on his 
long journey to Texas. 

No Texas patriot entered more freely and fully into 
the spirit of Texas independence than did David 
Crockett, the backwoodsman. 



REMEMBER GOLIAD ! 

James W. Fannin was a native of Georgia. He was 
educated at West Point, and came to Texas in the 
autumn of 1834 to purchase slaves and operate a 
plantation. Some trouble came up at Gonzales about 
the cannon, and when he heard of it, he raised a com- 
pany called the Brazos Guards and hurried to the scene 
of action. His company was later sent from the Espado 
(Es-pa'-do) Mission to select a camping ground near 
San Antonio. Fannin fought at the battle of Con- 
cepcion (C6n-sep'-si-6n), in which battle, because of his 
bravery, he won the name '' the hero of Concepcion." 

The Council that met at San Felipe selected Fannin 
and Rusk to collect men and materials for war; they 
were called recruiting officers. 

On December the twenty-first. General Houston 
ordered Fannin to establish his headquarters at Velasco 
(Va-las'-co). The Council increased his authority, 
directing him to collect forces around Copano (Co- 
pa-no) in order to make an attack upon Matamoras 
later. 

On January the eighth, 1836, Fannin sent out a call 
to all Texans who could enter the army as volunteers, 
to come and join him. He wanted to keep the enemy 

100 



Remember Goliad ! 101 

out of Texas and to cripple those who were already here. 

Things were in bad condition in the army and in the 
towns of Texas, and the Governor and his Council did 
not agree very well. Both the Governor and the Lieu- 
tenant Governor sent out orders, and this made a great 
deal of confusion and trouble for the officers in the army. 

When General Houston arrived at Goliad about the 
middle of January and started to Refugio (Ra-fu'-eeo), 
he learned, for the first time, that two other expeditions 
had been sent to this same place, one under Fannin 
and one under Johnson and Grant. He immediately 
returned to the Brazos, for he considered that his au- 
thority had been taken by others. 

About February the first, Fannin reached Goliad, 
and at once began to organize his volunteers. Fannin 
was elected colonel, and Ward Lieutenant Colonel. 
Though Fannin was elected Colonel he seemed to doubt 
his authority to take command, for he had received no 
order from General Houston, Commander of the army, 
or from the Governor. Fannin was placed in a difficult 
situation and it was hard for him to know just what to 
do. He was willing to fight as a private soldier, or to 
serve his country in any way that he might be called 
upon. But to be uncertain about what the higher au- 
thorities expected of him was a sore trial to him. 

Though Fannin has been accused of faulty judgment, 
and he seems not to have understood, he was a brave, 
true and generous man. A man who died as Fannin 
died was none other than a patriot. 



102 Texas Heroes 

THE MASSACRE AT GOLIAD 

On Palm Sunday, March the twenty-seventh, 1836, 
Fannin and his three hundred and thirty unarmed 
comrades, who had surrendered under promise of being 
set free, were marched out by the Mexican Commander, 
Urrea, and shot down Hke rabbits. 

The Mexican officer, who acted under Santa Anna's 
orders, told Fannin if he would kneel his life would be 
spared. Fannin replied, '* I do not care to live after 
my men have died." 

The prisoners were marched from the fort in three 
companies, for a half or three-quarters of a mile, 
guarded on each side by soldiers. The guards told 
different stories to the prisoners. To some of them the 
guards told they were being led out to cut wood, to 
others, that they were being led out to drive up cattle. 
To others, they told that they were being changed to 
another fort. Not until the guns of the guards were 
at their breasts, did they know that they looked into 
the face of death. 

Fannin's men died calling to each other with their 
last breath, " Let us die like men," and, waving their 
hats, cried *' Hurrah for Texas ! " 

On account of a wound, Fannin was not marched 
from the fort with his men, and when the guard told 
him that he would be shot if he would not kneel, he 
never moved a muscle. 

When one of the Mexican soldiers attempted to tie 
a handkerchief over Fannin's eyes, he took the hand- 



Remember Goliad! 103 

kerchief and tied it himself. He gave the officer his 
watch and asked that it might be sent to his family. He 
asked that he might be shot in the breast and not in the 
head, and he requested that he might be given a decent 
burial. 

He then bared his breast for the death bullet which 
was promptly sent, and the body of the brave young 
Texan fell at his enemy's feet. The Mexican officer 
kept his watch, ordered him shot in the head, and left 
his body unburied. 

The bodies of all of the Texans were left unburied, 
though they were later partially burned in a brush fence. 
When the Texas army under Rusk occupied Goliad 
late in the summer, their bones were collected and 
buried and a funeral service held. 

It is no wonder that " Remember Goliad !" was the 
stirring battle cry at San Jacinto. 



THE HERO OF THE ALAMO 

The world has heard the name of Wilham B. Travis. 
The world has heard the story of his heroic life and 
death. The world is glad to recognize his fair, un- 
spotted fame. The pages of history are brighter be- 
cause his name is written there, and he was favored 
among men to have been given the glorious oppor- 
tunity of dying as he died, a splendid example of un- 
selfish service. 

William B. Travis was born in Edgefield County, 
South Carolina, but he grew to manhood in iVlabama. 
He taught school and studied law in Alabama, and 
married one of the pretty girls who went to school to 
him. 

The next year after his marriage he left his family in 
Alabama and came to Texas. Soon after he arrived 
at Annahuac (An'-a-hac), because he said just exactly 
what he thought about the haughty, tyrannical Brad- 
hue, the Commander of the Fort, he, with others, was 
thrown into the barracks' prison. x\fter he was released 
from prison he removed to San Felipe, the capital 
of the colony. While he was Secretary of the Ajun- 
timento (A-yoon'-te-myen'-to), in 1834, he drew up a 
petition praying for the release of General Stephen 

104 



The Hero of the Alamo 105 

F. Austin, then confined in prison in the city of Mexico* 

Travis, in the spring of 1835, raised a company, cap- 
tured and disarmed Tenoria, the Mexican officer whom 
Santa Anna had sent with a squad of troops to guard 
the post at Annahuac. But these captured men were 
soon released by the authorities and their arms and 
papers restored to them. 

In 1835, Ugartechea (Oo-gar-ta-cha'-a), in com- 
mand at San Antonio, ordered the arrest of Travis 
and other Texans. Travis hastened to the west and 
joined the army under Stephen F. Austin. 

With a band of barely one hundred and fifty men, on 
February the twenty-second, the day that Santa Anna's 
advance division reached San Antonio, Travis retired 
to the fortress-church, Alamo, which was strongly 
defended. 

On the twenty-fourth of February he sent out the 
following announcement: 

Commandancy of the Alamo, 

Bexar, Feb'y 24th, 1836. 
To the People of Texas and all Americans in the World, 
Fellow Citizens and Compatriots: 

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans 
under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual 
bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have 
not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender 
at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to 
the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the 
demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves 



106 Texas Heroes 

proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or re- 
treat. Then, I call on you, in the name of Liberty, of 
patriotism and everything dear to the American charac- 
ter to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy 
is receiving reinforcements daily and will, no doubt, 
increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. 
If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain my- 
self as long as possible and die like a soldier who never 
forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his 
country. Victory or Death. 

*WILLIAM BARRETT TRAVIS, 

Lt. Col. Com'dH. 

P. S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy 
appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn. We 
have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels 
and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of beeves. 

TRAVIS. 

In another letter to a friend in Alabama he said, "Take 
care of my little boy; if the country is saved I may 
make him a splendid fortune, if it is lost, and I perish, 
he will know that he is the son of a man who died for 
his country." 

On March the third, Travis sent a letter to the con- 
vention at Washington in which he said, " I am here in 
fine spirits, with one hundred and forty-five men. I 
have held the place against a force of from one thousand 
five hundred to six thousand, and I will continue to hold 
it until I receive relief from my countrymen, or I will 

*(The original of this letter is in the State Library.) 



The Hero of the Alamo 109 

die defending the fort. I know the courage of my men 
will not fail them in their last struggle. God and 
Texas ! Liberty or Death ! " 

THE SIEGE OF THE ALAMO 

The Texans said they would defend the fort with 
their last drop of blood. In high spirits, the old walls 
ringing with their cheerful voices, they raised their 
flag over the fort. 

Each man took his place behind the openings in the 
wall of the church in which the cannon was placed, and 
all watched for the approach of the Mexicans. 

Santa Anna, with his large army, arrived February 
the twenty-second. At once he sent a message to 
Colonel Travis demanding immediate surrender. 

Travis replied, " No," by the boom of a cannon. 

On the tower of San Fernando church at Bexar 
(BaMiar), a red flag went up which said, ''No quarter," 
and the attack of the Mexicans began. Thirty- two 
men from Gonzales came to assist the Texans, and 
Colonel Fannin at Goliad was notified to send assist- 
ance to the Texans as soon as possible.* 

Bowie, though too ill to leave his cot, watched, ready 
with his knife and gun. James Bonham and David 
Crockett stood ready to give their lives. On the 
twenty-seventh of February, ten bombs were thrown 
into the convent yard, though little damage was done. 
When the scouts returned to the Alamo late in the 
evening of that day, they reported that the Mexicans 

♦Which assistance never came. 



110 Texas Heroes 

in every part of the nearby country were committing 
murder and destroying property, not sparing women 
and children. 

The enemy, increasing daily, were preparing to sur- 
round the fort. This was enough to dishearten the 
Texans, but their courage never failed, and from every 
window in the fort their rifle balls defied the enemy. 

Travis drew a line on the ground with his sword, 
saying to his men, '' All of you who are ready to die 
for Texas, come across to me ! " 

Every man, but one, who escaped over the wall, 
silently crossed the line. Bowie asked to be carried 
across on his cot. 

Between five and six thousand Mexicans surrounded 
and laid siege to the Alamo at dawn, Sunday, March 
the sixth, 1836. They brought axes, crowbars and lad- 
ders with which to climb upon and batter the walls. 

In fire and blood the battle raged until daybreak and 
at the last it was a hand to hand fight, the foes meeting 
face to face. The Texans, with their knives, rifles and 
pistols, killed hundreds of Mexicans, and every Texan 
was killed. One hundred and eighty-two Texans were 
slain by five thousand Mexicans. 

Brave Travis, only twenty-eight years of age, fell 
from a rampart in the fort, wounded mortally. As he 
fell a Mexican officer tried to cut off his head, but he 
drew his sword quickly and both perished. Another 
Mexican officer mutilated the body of Travis with his 
sword, then waved it over the mangled remains. 




WILLIAM BARRETT TRAVIS. 

(From painting in State Library.) 



The Hero of the Alamo 113 

HEROES' BODIES ARE BURNED 

The bodies of the defenders of the Alamo were thrown 
into the chapel and burned. Mrs. Dickinson and the 
negro servant of Colonel Travis were the only ones 
spared. Santa Anna sent a Mexican officer with Mrs. 
Dickinson and the servant to General Sam Houston 
offering peace to the Texans if they would lay down 
their arms and surrender to the Government. Gen- 
eral Houston replied, '' You have killed some of our 
brave men, but the Texans are not yet conquered." 
General Houston also sent to Santa Anna a copy of the 
Declaration of Texas Independence agreed upon March 
the second, 1836, at Washington on the Brazos. 

Travis, with the other defenders of the Alamo, ful- 
filled his mission to the world and to humanity. In 
his short life he performed a service that gives him a 
place in the hearts of all who value self-sacrifice as the 
full expression of the Master's work. 



THE HERO OF SAN JACINTO 

Sam Houston was born at Timber Ridge Church, 
seven miles from Lexington, Rockbridge County, Vir- 
ginia, March the second, 1798. His father was a brave 
soldier in the war of the American Revolution. His 
mother was a sweet, lovable woman, and had the great- 
est influence over the life of her son. When other 
people did not seem to understand his strange ways, 
she always seemed to know all about it, and she was 
the first one to find out that her boy had a great heart 
and a great head. 

Young Sam loved to have his own way and he never 
wanted to take anybody's advice. The neighbors 
said, " Sam is a headstrong boy and he will never come 
to a good end." But Sam was learning how to depend 
upon himself and he did not think he needed their ad- 
vice. 

When his mother was left a widow^ with six sons and 
three daughters, and had to sell her old home and move 
many miles away into a new country, Sam Houston 
took up work with a will. He took good care of this 
sweet mother that he loved so much. 

Their new home, about eight miles from the Tennes- 
see River, which was then the boundary line between 

114 




SAM HOUSTON. 



The Hero of San Jacinto 117 

the white people's territory and that of the Cherokee 
(Cher'-o-kee) Indians, was near a good school called an 
academy. Sam liked to go to school fairly well, but 
there were some studies that he liked very much and 
some that he did not like at all. The ones that he did 
not like he refused to study and the ones that he 
enjoyed he never wanted to put down. 

One day he told his schoolmaster that he thought he 
would like to study Latin. The schoolmaster, who 
probably was busy at the time Sam spoke to him, said, 
" No, not now." Sam was so disappointed that he 
turned around and said, " I'll never recite another 
lesson while I hve." But he did not declare that he 
would never study another lesson while he lived. He 
become a great reader and he found many good and 
useful books to read. 

There is a wonderful book. Homer's " Iliad," which 
is a classic, and this book Sam Houston loved to read, 
and he memorized many passages in it. This great 
book, which told him about the soldiers of ancient times 
and the people of deep thought and industry, so enter- 
tained and instructed him that he kept a copy of it 
with him. Often, when he was in camp or away on a 
long journey, he would sleep with it under his pillow. 

His older brothers, who had never read this wonder- 
ful book, could not understand why Sam loved it so. 
They didn't understand Sam, so they said, " Sam, you 
are a lazy boy and we are going to put you to work." 
This they did. They put Sam to work in a country 



118 Texas Heroes 

store where he had to do a Httle of everything, sweep 
oiit the store, wait on customers, run errands and some- 
times drive a mule team. 

SAM HOUSTON RUNS AWAY TO LIVE WITH THE INDIANS 

This boy, who loved to read about the heroes in a 
book like Homer's '' Iliad," could not make himself con- 
tented in a country store selling pins and needles and 
running errands. One day when he heard the roar of 
the falls at the river and felt the call in his blood to go 
to the woods, he decided to run away. He loved the 
Cherokee Indians, and he wanted to leave the store and 
go to live with them. 

Though he ran away from his home and joined the 
red-skinned men that he loved, he did not forget his 
mother. He would go home often to see her and tell 
her all about his travels and the strange things that the 
Indians did. His mother would mend his clothes and 
they would have long walks and talks together. His 
mother, too, loved the animals in the wild woods, and 
she enjoyed hearing his accounts of the happy days 
with the Indians. After these short visits to his mother, 
Sam would hurry back to his wild life in the woods. 

Sam wore the Indians' dress, learned their customs, 
habits, and language, and lived just exactly as they did. 

One of the things that interested him very much 
during these wild days was the study of the Indian 
character. Sam found out that in order to make his 
Indian friends true to him, he must be true to them. 
He learned that an Indian never forgets a kindness, 



The Hero of San Jacinto 119 

even a small kindness, and that an Indian can love very 
much, and he would risk his life to help a friend in 
trouble. He also learned that the Indian knows how 
to hate, and he feels it his duty to punish his enemies. 
The Indians understood Sam, too, and he had a place 
in their hearts if they were savage hearts. Years 
afterwards when this young runaway boy became Presi- 
dent of the Republic of Texas not one Indian ever 
violated a treaty. 

Before he went to live with the Indians he had con- 
tracted a few debts which he wanted to earn enough 
money to pay, so he returned to his home to find some 
employment. He easily secured a country school and 
he taught it successfully. 

SAM HOUSTON AT HORSESHOE BEND 

Sam Houston was only nineteen years of age in 1812 
when the United States and England were at war, called 
the War of 1812. He enlisted in the army of the United 
States at Maryville, Tennessee. 

His mother had known since he was a small boy that 
his greatest desire in life was to be a soldier, so, when he 
entered the army, she helped him in every way that she 
could and told him he must always be a brave and true 
man and never afraid to fight for the right. It was not 
long before he was made Sergeant, then Ensign, and 
the officer in command said he was one of the best 
drilled men in the company. The battle of Tohopeka 
(To-ho-pe-ka) , which means horseshoe bend, was a 
fierce bloody battle between the white men and the 



120 Texas Heroes 

Indians. In this battle, in which General Andrew 
Jackson was in command, Sam Houston received a 
wound from which he suffered the remainder of his life. 
It was here that Houston won the life-long admiration 
and friendship of General Jackson. 

At the close of this war Houston was appointed 
Lieutenant of the First Regiment of Infantry and placed 
at New Orleans. Here his wound was treated, but the 
suffering that he endured was the kind that can be en- 
dured only by those who have nerve and great self- 
control. 

In April, 1816, Houston visited New York and Wash- 
ington City, and in 1817 he was called for duty to the 
Adjutant's office at Nashville, Tennessee. After a 
few months of service in this office he was appointed 
under-agent among the Cherokee Indians, to carry out 
a treaty which had been made with the Cherokee 
nation. 

He went with a delegation of Indians to Washington, 
where he appeared before President Monroe and Secre- 
tary of War, John C. Calhoun, making a fine exhibit 
of what he had done and what he believed to be right. 
His work for the Indians was approved and appreciated. 

HOUSTON STUDIES LAW 

Houston soon gave up the Indian agency and his lieu- 
tenancy in the army and went to Nashville where he 
began to study law. He knew much of men and affairs; 
he had for years been a careful observer of men's hearts 
and minds, so after six months of study he applied 



The Hero of San Jacinto 123 

for a license to practice law. He obtained his license 
and, with a small library, opened a law office in Leb- 
anon, Tennessee. 

In that same year, he was elected District Attorney 
and moved to Nashville. He was appointed Adjutant- 
General of Tennessee, and in 1821 was elected Major- 
General by the field officers of the division which repre- 
sented two-thirds of the State. 

He was a successful lawyer and had he continued in 
the practice of the law he would have risen to a place 
with the great lawyers of the country. 

He was elected in 1823, without opposition, to a seat 
in the House of Representatives of the United States, 
and returned, without opposition, for a second term. 

HOUSTON IS ELECTED GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE 

In 1827 he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
no man in Tennessee had more friends or more power 
than Sam Houston. 

One day he suddenly resigned the office of Governor 
and gave up his public life, all that held out opportunity 
to him as a lawyer and a statesman, and returned to 
his home with the Cherokee Indians. The same old 
chief that had loved him as a runaway, wandering boy, 
held out his arms to him, opened wide the door of the 
wigwam and welcomed him lovingly back to his home 
in the forests. 

He was a great help now to his old friends, for he sat 
at their council fires, gave them advice, and watched 
with keen eye the wrongs that were put upon them by 



124 Texas Heroes 

selfish officials who looked after their own welfare in- 
stead of the welfare of the Indians. 

Houston went to Washington to see what he could 
do to help the Indians. With the assistance of General 
Jackson he had five agents and under-agents removed, 
and he asked the Government of the United States to 
look into the Indian affairs, and this the Government 
did. 

Though Houston's friends begged him not to do so, 
after he had found aid for his red-skinned friends, he 
went back to their wigwams in the forest to make 
his home with them. 

SAM HOUSTON COMES TO TEXAS 

General Jackson requested Houston to confer with 
the fierce, wild Comanche Indians who were not only 
feared by the white people but by all of the other In- 
dian tribes. General Jackson knew that Houston 
understood Indians well and that he had influence over 
them. He wanted the Comanches to send a delegation 
to Fort Gibson on the Arkansas river, with the purpose 
of later visiting Washington City, for he was very anx- 
ious that a treaty of peace might be made with this 
savage tribe. Nothing but this treaty would protect 
the people who had been so harassed by these Indians. 

On December the first, 1832, Houston, with a few 
companions, left his Indian home on the Arkansas and 
started for Fort Towson. At Nacogdoches, he told 
the authorities why he had come into Texas, and he 
traveled on to San Felipe de Austin, the capital of 



The Hero of San Jacinto 125 

Austin's colony. From here, in accord with General 
Jackson's plan, he traveled to San Antonio de Bexar, 
where he carried out the plan of the treaty with the 
Comanches. 

Sam Houston had been watching affairs in Texas, 
the Mexican cruelties and oppression, and the almost 
helpless condition of the Texans. He deeply sym- 
pathized with the Texans. He boldly made up his 
mind to help Texas fight for her freedom. 

When he returned to Nacogdoches he was notified 
that he had been elected a delegate to the convention 
to be held at San Felipe in April, 1833. 

This was the convention that decided to send a re- 
quest to the government of Mexico to repeal their cruel, 
oppressive laws, and Stephen F. Austin carried the re- 
quest or memorial. 

Mexico refused to change her laws, she became more 
and more cruel, and the Texans said they would wait 
no longer, but would resist her by force. 

HOUSTON IS MADE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TEXAN 

ARMY 

All of the forces in Texas were brought together and 
Sam Houston was made Commander-in-Chief of the 
army of Texas. On March the second, 1836, Sam 
Houston's birthday, the Independence of Texas was 
declared at Washington on the Brazos. General 
Houston gathered the forces between the Brazos and 
the Guadalupe, while Santa Anna, at the head of a 
strong army of Mexican soldiers, in three divisions, was 



126 Texas Heroes 

advancing from the West. With what forces he could 
gather, he retreated before the main division of Santa 
Anna's army, while his scouts constantly reported the 
movements of the enemy. 

Houston was sure that Santa Anna would follow him 
to the head of the San Jacinto river, so he marched to 
that point. By cutting off all means of escape, he 
determined to win or die. Houston moved so slowly 
that the Texas soldiers became alarmed. Even those 
who trusted him most grew impatient, and murmured 
at the delays in their onward march. He began to 
retreat March the thirteenth, traveling slowly from 
Gonzales to the Colorado, thence to the several points 
on the Brazos, with Santa Anna's army close behind. 
Men, women and children were fleeing at the very 
sound of Santa Anna's name. So strange did General 
Houston's movements seem to the people that they 
began to wonder, in terror, if they were going to be 
protected by the Texas army. 

In the meantime, Santa Anna, feeling very proud of 
his recent victories, and sure that he would have others, 
had allowed the three divisions of his army to scatter. 
The so-called central division, which he accom- 
panied in person, commanded by Generals Sesma and 
Filisola (Feel-i-so'-la), had been following Houston 
upon his retreat. So sure did Santa Anna feel of his 
power over the Texans that he left his main army on 
the Brazos, and with about one thousand men went to 
Harrisburg. Here he thought he could capture Presi- 



The Hero of San Jacinto 127 

dent Burnet and his cabinet. He found Harrisburg 
deserted, so he burned the town and marched rapidly 
to Washington; which town he also burned. It was 
his plan to follow the President and his cabinet to 
Washington, take them prisoners, and declare the war 
at an end. 

But while his army was getting ready to take the 
ferry at Lynchburg (Lynch's Ferry) a scout reported 
to Santa Anna that Houston and the Texas army were 
near at hand. This information took Santa Anna, who 
was separated from his army, by surprise. 

THE TEXANS PREPARE FOR BATTLE 

As the Texans prepared for battle, they neglected 
nothing, not even the smallest detail, and they obeyed 
every command of their chieftain. The day was fine, 
and after each Texan had eaten his simple breakfast, 
General Houston looked over his army. He encouraged 
the soldiers by his cheerful words, and by telling each 
officer what he wanted him to do. He told "' Deaf " 
Smith, a cool-headed scout, to get two good axes and 
hide them in a safe place, easy to reach, where, upon a 
moment's notice, he could bring them out for use. He 
told Smith not to pass the sentinel's lines without notice 
from him. 

A large force had arrived to join Santa Anna, and 
there was much moving and stirring in the Mexicans' 
camp. General Houston knew the effect this would 
have upon his men. He told them that what looked 
like new forces for the enemy were the same Mexicans 



128 Texas Heroes 

they had seen the day before, who were just marching 
up and down in order to frighten the Texas soldiers, 
and that it was a way the Mexicans had of alarming 
the Texans. 

At this same time. General Houston sent " Deaf " 
Smith and one comrade with secret orders to go to the 
rear of that new Mexican force to find out how large it 
was, then return quietly to him. 

When the messengers returned they reported where 
the soldiers could hear, ''That it was just as the General 
had said, the Mexicans were only trying to frighten 
the Texans." But to the General's ear they whispered 
that '' General Cos (Cos) had come by forced marches 
with more than five hundred men to reinforce Santa 
Anna." 

GENERAL HOUSTON HOLDS A COUNCIL OF WAR 

General Houston immediately called a council of 
his field officers, under the solemn oaks at San Jacinto, 
and the council determined upon battle. 

Seeing that the Texans were restless and eager for 
attack. General Houston called '' Deaf " Smith and 
his companions to him, and he went with them to the 
place where the axes had been hid that morning. 
Handing an axe to each of these reliable men the Gen- 
eral said, " Take these axes, make your way to Vinces 
Bridge, cut it down and come back like eagles or you 
will lose the day." 

The cutting down of Vinces bridge, across Vinces 
bayou, a stream which empties into Buffalo bayou, 



The Hero of San Jacinto 129 

stopped all chance of escape, for both armies had had 
to cross it to reach the battle ground. 

THE ATTACK 

At three o'clock in the afternoon of April the twenty- 
first, 1836, General Houston made the charge which 
inspired every Texan. '' Remember the Alamo ! " and 
" Remember Goliad! " rang out the voices of the Texans. 
The Mexicans, who were either taking their afternoon 
nap or hiding behind trees and bushes, were completely 
taken by surprise. At this moment, " Deaf " Smith 
rode up, his horse covered with mire and foam, shout- 
ing, as he waved his axe over his head, " I have cut 
down Vinces Bridge! Fight for your lives and remem- 
ber the Alamo ! " 

The mounted Texas soldiers were first sent to the 
front, advancing in steady lines, and the cannon was 
carried within two hundred yards of the enemy's breast- 
works. 

The two cannon " Twin sisters," a gift of the city of 
Cincinnati to the Republic of Texas, kept up a steady 
firing, shattering and shivering everything they struck. 
As General Houston spurred his horse into the very 
breast of the foe, the Texans rushed solidly upon the 
Mexicans. The Mexicans, lined up in exact order, 
sent a heavy storm of bullets, but sent them too high, 
and they went over the heads of the Texans. 

General Houston was wounded in the ankle and his 
horse was shot. When they had used all of their am- 
munition, the Texans used their rifles as war clubs, 



130 Texas Heroes 

splintering them upon the heads of the Mexicans. 
After firing one shot from their pistols the Texans did 
not stop to re-load, but threw the heavy iron at the 
head of some Mexican. Like wild men the Texans 
flew after the Mexicans who tried to escape. 

In no sense did the Mexicans show a lack of courage 
and readiness upon the field of San Jacinto. They 
made bold charges, but, as the battle advanced, they 
began to realize what their massacres at Goliad and at 
the Alamo meant to the Texans. 

When the last line of Texans was charged by a Mexi- 
can division, General Houston dashed to the front of his 
men, shouting, " Come on, my brave fellows, your 
General leads you ! " The right and left wings of the 
Mexican army had been scattered before the central 
portion was broken, but soon the Mexican soldiers, 
each one bent on saving his life, staggered or fell in the 
oozy, swampy grass. 

When the flying Mexicans, pursued by the Texans, 
reached Vinces Bayou, and found that the bridge was 
gone, they clung to the banks, or plunged into the dark, 
muddy water, sinking to the bottom. The few who 
succeeded in crossing fell back into the water, shot by 
some Texan. 

As a last means of escape some of the Mexicans had 
rushed to the island of green trees where the Mexi- 
cans had been in camp. Here the marshy ground was 
deep, and the horses, with their riders, sank into the 
mire and were instantly covered over. Dead men, 



The Hero of San Jacinto 131 

horses, saddles, guns, pistols, soon made a bridge over 
the marshy ground. 

Almonte (Al-mon'-ta), secretary to Santa Anna, and 
some of his men had agreed that they would either fight 
the Texans or surrender, but that they would not run 
away. General Houston, with as many men as he 
could gather together, led them to a charge, but his 
wounded horse fell dead with seven bullets in his 
faithful body. Not until his horse fell did the Texans 
know that General Houston was wounded. As his 
wounded leg touched the ground, he fell. He gave his 
command to General Rusk and another horse was 
brought to him. 

As General Rusk advanced upon the Mexicans, Al- 
monte came forward with his sword. The Alamo and 
Goliad were remembered and San Jacinto was won ! 

SANTA ANNA BEFORE GENERAL HOUSTON 

Santa Anna was captured by the Texans and was a 
prisoner at their mercy. On the morning of the twenty- 
second of April he was taken, by the Texas soldiers to 
General Houston, who, on account of the pain from his 
wound, lay upon a blanket under a tree. 

Santa Anna bowed very low, and, with fine words, 
began the interview. 

*' I am General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a 
prisoner of war, sir, at your disposal." 

General Houston asked him to be seated. Santa 
Anna continued, " Sir, you should be very considerate. 



132 Texas Heroes 

for, remember, you have captured the Napoleon of the 
West." 

" Do you expect mercy at our hands when you 
showed none at the Alamo ? " asked General Houston. 

To this inquiry Santa Anna replied, '' When a fort 
refuses to surrender, and is taken by assault, the pris- 
oners are doomed to death, according to the rules of 
war." 

" If that be true," replied Houston, " such a rule is 
a disgrace to this civilized nineteenth century. Tell 
me, sir," continued Houston, " under what rule of war 
do you place Goliad ? " 

To this Santa Anna replied, '' I had orders from my 
government to execute every man taken with arms in 
his hands." 

'' Ah, sir," replied Houston, " you are the government, 
for you are Dictator I Who, in your government, can 
be superior to you, tvho are Dictator? You must, at 
once, write an order for all Mexican troops to abandon 
our country and return to their homes." 

Had there been a way out of this, Santa Anna would 
have found it, but there was no escape from him 
here. He wrote the order and it was sent by '' Deaf " 
Smith and Henry Karnes to General Filisola, who was 
second in command. 

Santa Anna tried to discuss with General Houston 
the matter of purchasing his freedom but the Texan 
Commander told him that such matters must come 
before the government of Texas. 



The Hero of San Jacinto 133 

SOME RESULTS OF SAN JACINTO 

Some of the Texans thought that Santa Anna's own 
blood ought to pay the price of his treatment of the 
Texans, but General Houston decided upon another 
course. His dealings with Santa Anna were tactfully 
made and showed his great sense. He formed a solid 
compact with Santa Anna which provided that he 
should never again take up arms against the Texans. 
Every Mexican soldier was to be sent home. All prop- 
erty, great or small, valuable or not, which the Mexi- 
cans had captured from the Texans, should be returned. 

Santa Anna solemnly promised to abide by the terms 
of this compact. President Burnet detained Santa 
Anna a prisoner for a time, but he was liberated by 
General Houston and sent to Washington in July, 1837, 
and from there he returned to Mexico. 

HOUSTON'S FURTHER SERVICE TO TEXAS 

At the next election for President, General Sam 
Houston with great rejoicing was chosen the first 
constitutional President of the Republic of Texas. 
He was elected at Columbia on the Brazos, then the 
Capital of Texas. He served one term in the Texas 
Congress and from 1841 to 1845 he again served the 
Republic of Texas as President. 

President Houston was anxious for Texas to become 
one of the States in the United States. When Texas 
was admitted into the Union in 1845 he was elected 
to the United States Senate, serving until May, 1857. 

In 1857, Runnels defeated Houston for Governor 



134 Texas Heroes 

of Texas, and in 1859 Houston defeated Runnels for 
the same office. 

In 1861, when war between the northern and the 
southern states began, many of the southern States left 
the Union. The Texas people wanted their State to 
leave the Union for they believed in all of the principles 
taught by the South. For the first time, the people of 
Texas would not listen to Houston who did not want 
Texas to leave the Union. 

In January, 1861, a convention sat at Austin, Texas, 
which considered whether or not Texas should leave 
the Union. Houston would not attend the convention. 

On February the twenty-third, 1861, the matter was 
submitted to the people of the State. 

As Governor Houston was honestly opposed to Texas 
leaving the Union and as the people wanted their State 
to withdraw, they declared his office vacant. Some 
of his friends wanted to sustain him in office but he saw 
the results which might come by force, so he quietly 
gave the office up. 

Though the people did not, at the time, agree with 
Houston, he could look far ahead and see what they 
could not see. He knew the conditions in both the 
north and the south, and some of the things that he 
said " would certainly happen " came about exactly 
as he said they would. 

Though Texas, against Houston's will, left the Union, 
he always loved her, and one of his sons, with Hous- 
ton's consent, served in the Confederate Army. 



The Hero of San Jacinto 135 

LAST DAYS OF HOUSTON 

Sam Houston's last days were spent at his home in 
Huntsville. On Sunday, June the twenty-sixth, 1863, 
surrounded by his family, his bold, fine spirit went back 
to God. 

His remains rest at Huntsville, under a tomb which, 
in accord with an act of the Texas Legislature, has 
been placed there by the people of Texas. 

The beautiful city of Houston, situated on Buffalo 
Bayou, twenty-two miles from the San Jacinto battle- 
field, is named for General Sam Houston. 

The State of Texas has converted the San Jacinto 
battle-field into a beautiful park. Broad drive ways, 
parks and a picturesque boat landing make of this 
historic spot a very attractive place to visit. 

In the words of General Andrew Jackson, which sig- 
nificant phrase is engraved upon the tomb of General 
Houston : 

'' The world will take care of Houston's fame." 



THE HERO OF SHILOH 

Albert Sidney Johnston was born in Washington, 
Mason County, Kentucky, February the second, 1803. 
His father, a busy doctor, who made long journeys over 
the country, was considered the wise man in the 
community, and people came from far and near to con- 
sult him about many things. His mother was a kind, 
gentle little woman whose whole heart was in her home. 

Little Albert Sidney loved the games and sports that 
boys usually love, and he was a leader and an organizer 
among his little friends. As he grew into a larger boy 
he became more quiet and he loved to sit alone and read 
or study and plan what he was going to do. His father 
said that the boy " knew how to reason," and that he 
could see two sides of a matter at the same time. 

When he was fifteen years old, he attended school 
for one session in western Virginia, after which he was 
employed in a drug store, where he took an active in- 
terest in his work. 

While he was a student at Transylvania College he 
became deeply interested in stories of the sea, and he 
said he thought he would like to join the United States 
Navy. In this he was influenced by his great love for 
American history and by what some of his older friends 

136 




ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON. 



The Hero of Shiloh 139 

had told him of the victories of the Americans in the 
great sea fights in the War of 1812. He made up his 
mind to go to sea and he tried to make his plans to that 
end. But his mother and father were unwilling for 
him to go, and in order to change his desire, they sent 
him away for a long visit, with his sister, to Louisiana. 
His sister tried very hard to interest him in other things 
so he would forget the longing to go to sea, and she at 
last succeeded. 

When he returned to Transylvania college he studied 
hard, doing fine work in mathematics, science and 
Latin. A desire to become a soldier took the place of 
his desire to go to sea, and in this his parents and 
teachers encouraged him. 

JOHNSTON BECOMES A SOLDIER 

He procured an appointment to West Point, and with 
quiet diligence began his preparations for a soldier's 
life. He seemed to have made up his mind to learn 
everything in the course of study, for he was a constant 
worker and made fine class marks. 

In 1832 he served as a civil engineer in the Black 
Hawk War, traveling over plains, through forests and 
across rivers, fighting the wild, keen-eyed Indians. 

JOHNSTON JOINS THE TEXANS 

In 1836, Johnston joined the Texans,who were fight- 
ing for their liberty, and he entered freely into the spirit 
of Texas independence. He favored the annexation of 
Texas to the United States, and he watched every 
interest and need of the young Republic. 



140 Texas Heroes 

He was Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas un- 
der President Lamar, and in 1839 he took up the difficult 
work of sending the Cherokee Indians out of east Texas, 
by organizing an expedition to march against them. 

Albert Sidney Johnston fought with General Zach- 
ariah Taylor in the war between the United States and 
Mexico, serving as Colonel of the Second Regiment of 
Volunteers. When the war with Mexico came to a 
close, he was appointed Inspector General in the Army 
of the United States. In 1849 he was made paymaster, 
and given duty with the Second Cavalry on the Texas 
frontier. 

For a number of years he was a citizen of Austin, 
Texas. In 1855, with General Harney, he went to the 
plains of the west, though every now and then he visited 
his plantation home in Brazos County, Texas, where he 
lived quietly and happily. 

His eyes were upon Texas all the time, her affairs 
at home and away from home, for he was a devoted 
friend to the cause of his adopted State. 

In 1857, while in command of the Department of 
Texas, he was ordered to Utah, to put down disorder 
among the Mormons. In this dangerous and difficult 
work he served two years, and was successful in the end. 
He was next placed in command of the Pacific Coast 
with headquarters at San Francisco. 

JOHNSTON JOINS THE CONFEDERACY 

In 1861, when he heard that Texas had left the 
Union, he resigned his command in the United States 



The Hero of Shiloh 141 

Army and went to Richmond, Virginia, where he joined 
the Confederacy, and he was at once placed in com- 
mand of the western defences. He commanded the 
Confederate Hnes west of the Cumberland Mountains 
to the Mississippi River, including Forts Donelson and 
Henry. 

Arranged against him were the enemy in Kentucky, 
more than one hundred thousand strong, under General 
Buell, and across in Illinois, fifteen thousand strong 
under General Grant. 

THE BATTLE OF SHILOH 

Johnston did not wait for the attack of Buell and 
Grant, who had planned to crush the Confederates. 
But at daylight, April the sixth, 1862, he attacked 
Grant near Shiloh, a country church about two miles 
from the Tennessee river near the line between Missis- 
sippi and Tennessee. It was a quick, terrible battle. 
The battle was fought in a peach orchard, and near by 
was a pond which was named '' Bloody pond" by the 
Confederates since it ran red with soldiers' blood. The 
battle was so fierce and furious that one of the positions 
was called " Hornets' nest." 

Hour after hour the Confederates sent back the 
enemy, withering their lines. At last General Johnston 
shouted, " Men, you must give them the bayonet! I 
will lead you ! " Then, with a whoop and a yell the 
long Confederate line charged! They gained their 
position, and sent the enemy flying toward the river. 
With the enemy hemmed in by the Tennessee river on 



142 Texas Heroes 

one hand and a dense swamp on the other, the Con- 
federates stood boldly in front. As the enemy could 
not pass the river or the swamp, and they could not 
pass the Confederates, victory was ready to crown the 
Confederates. 

DEATH OF ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON 

But at the very moment of victory, the central figure 
was removed! General Johnston was shot as he sat 
on his horse directing the battle. The artery in his leg, 
shot by a minie ball, was cut and torn, and as no one 
was near to staunch the bleeding of the dangerous 
wound, he bled to death. 

General Beauregard took command. Buell rejoined 
Grant with fresh soldiers, and the Confederates were 
out-numbered two to one. 

General Johnston's body was tenderly carried from 
the battle-field by his soldiers, and for some years it 
rested in Metric Cemetery, New Orleans, where, over 
his grave, a beautiful bronze statue was placed by the 
citizens of this true southern city. 

In accord with General Johnston's expressed wish, 
'* I want my body to rest in Texas soil," by an act of 
the Texas Legislature, and with permission of the city 
of New Orleans, the sacred remains were removed to 
Austin, Texas. Under a tomb erected by an Act of 
the Texas Legislature, in the State Cemetery, rests the 
body of the Hero of Shiloh. 



OUR INDIAN FIGHTER GOVERNOR 

Lawrence Sullivan Ross was the son of the Indian 
fighter and Texas ranger, General Shapley P. Ross. 
" Sul " Ross, as he was called, was born at Benton's 
Port, Iowa, in 1838. He was known among his friends 
for his unfailing steady nerve in hours of danger, and 
for his good, sound sense. He attended school at 
Baylor University at Waco, Texas, and later at the 
Wesleyan University at Florence, Alabama. 

As he was returning home, in the summer of 1858, to 
spend his vacation, he gathered together a company of 
one hundred and twenty-five Indian warriors. He went 
to the support of Major Earl Van Dorn who was leading 
the second United States Cavalry against the war- 
loving Comanche Indians. 

In October, 1858, he took part in the battle of 
Wichita. In this battle, by his steady nerve and 
calm manner, he rescued a little eight-year-old white 
girl who had been in the hands of the Indians since she 
was a baby. He named her Lizzie Ross and took her 
to his mother's home where she received training and 
kind attention and grew into a useful woman. 

General Van Dorn and young Ross were. both badly 
wounded in the battle of Wichita. When the young 

143 



144 Texas Heroes 

soldier had regained his strength after his painful 
wound, he returned to school at Florence, Alabama, 
where, in 1859, he graduated. The next year he was 
placed at the head of a company of sixty Texas rangers. 
The Texas rangers were a band of bold, daring 
men who looked after the Texas frontier and all of the 
border lands, demanding law and order. Both the 
Indians and the Mexicans on the border were trouble- 
some. They burned homes, stole horses, destroyed 
the crops and committed murder whenever and how- 
ever they could. The Rangers were organized for 
active, ready service, with no fixed military rules to be 
followed. 

CYNTHIA ANN PARKER 

As they guarded the western frontier, Ross and his 
Rangers gave a blow to the Comanche Indians from 
which these fierce warriors never recovered. In the 
battle at the head of Pease River, the savage chief, Peter 
Nocona, was killed. Captain Ross and his men cap- 
tured the treasures which, from year to year, these 
Indians had stolen and stored away. But the Captain 
captured one prize from these Indians that was a very 
great surprise to him. It was a young woman who, 
when she was a little girl, had been stolen and carried 
away by the Comanche Indians, who captured her at 
Parker's Fort in 1836. Her name was Cynthia Ann 
Parker. When they first found her, Captain Ross and 
his Rangers were angry to think that a white woman 
for so long a time had been a captive with savages. 



Our Indian Fighter Governor 145 

But they learned that she knew their language and had 
forgotten her own, that the Indians had been kind to 
her, and that she loved them. 

Cynthia Ann Parker was the wife of the chief, Peter 
Nocono, whom they had just slain. One of their sons, 
Quanah (Kwa'-na) Parker was later chief of the 
Comanches. 

Though Captain Ross and his Rangers took her back 
to her own people, believing this to be the greatest 
kindness to her, her roving Indian life held such charm 
for her that she could not be happy in the change, and 
after a few years of civilization she died. 

Captain Ross gave such valuable service that Gov- 
ernor Sam Houston appointed him an aide-de-camp 
(ad'-du-com), with the rank of Colonel. When others 
failed and continued to fail Colonel Ross put the fron- 
tier in order. 

In 1860, General Houston wrote to Colonel Ross, 
''Continue to punish the Indians as you are now doing, 
and the people of Texas will not fail to reward you." 
And the people did not fail. Since the highest reward 
for work is more work, and more difficult work, he lived 
to bear many other burdens for his State and to receive 
from her many expressions of appreciation. 

ROSS ENTERS THE CONFEDERATE ARMY 

In 1861, Ross entered the Confederate Army, a private 
soldier in the company commanded by his brother, 
Colonel P. F. Ross. 

He was promoted rapidly because of his knowledge 



146 Texas Heroes 

of military affairs, his rare, good sense and his fine 
character. The soldiers as well as the officers trusted 
him. In September, 1861, he was placed in command 
of the Sixth Texas Cavalry. The next May he was 
elected Colonel and placed in command of his brigade. 
But as he cared more about giving service than he 
did about receiving honors he did not accept the com- 
mand of the brigade. 

One time, upon Hatchie river in Mississippi, while 
he was guarding the wagon trains of the Confederates, 
with one thousand men he held ten thousand of the 
enemy away long enough for the Confederate forces to 
reform and safely retreat in order. 

The Confederate War Department at Richmond, 
Virginia, asked for the name of the soldier who had 
given this fine service at Hatchie river. When the 
name of Colonel Ross was given, General Joseph E. 
Johnston, one of the leaders of the South, had Colonel 
Ross appointed a Brigadier-General. Later, he fought 
with Generals Johnston and Hood. 

As General Ross rode rapidly near a battle-field one 
day at the head of a body of cavalry, he saw one of his 
old soldiers lying near the roadside, left there to die. 
Shot and shell were flying, for the enemy was at hand, 
but when the old soldier called to the General, he rode 
to him, dismounted, examined his wounds, gave him 
water to drink, and asked him if he was strong enough 
to ride behind him on his horse. When the old soldier 
said that the pain from his wounds was too great, Gen- 



Our Indian Fighter Governor 147 

eral Ross turned his pockets inside out and gave him all 
of the money that he had. He then rode to the head 
of his command while the enemy kept up a steady fire. 

SERVICE IN TIME OF PEACE 

At the close of the war in 1865, General Ross re- 
turned to his home in Waco. He was brave upon the 
battlefield, but this was not all. He knew how to direct 
the beliefs and opinions of his fellow-men and to point 
them to proper paths. Sometimes it requires a greater 
leader to do this than to fight upon the field. He was 
a member of a very important body called the *' Con- 
stitutional Convention," and he was a member of the 
State Senate from 1881 to 1883. In 1886 the people 
of Texas said that he had done so much for them that 
they would give him the highest honor in their power, 
so they elected him Governor. He served honorably 
for four years after which, like General Robert E. Lee, 
he was elected President of a large college for the educa- 
tion of young men, the Agricultural and Mechanical 
College of Texas, located at College Station, Brazos 
County. Here many young men profited by his ex- 
ample of manliness, modesty, and unaffected, strong 
character. When he passed away in January, 1898, all 
Texas mourned the loss of one who had shared many 
lights and shadows of her changeful history. 



THE OLD COMMONER 

Judge John H. Reagan, because he had strong char- 
acter, noble purpose and was wilHng to accept the re- 
sults of the right whatever they might be, was called 
" the old Commoner." 

Like all men who really help the world, he was un- 
affected, plain and modest, and he never pretended to 
be what he was not. Every body knew just exactly 
where to find Judge Reagan, and that he could not, 
however great the inducement might be, be led to do a 
thing or to share in a thing which he did not believe 
to be honorable and manly. 

John Heninger Reagan was born on October the 
eighth, 1818, in Sevier County, Tennessee. His great 
grand-father had been a soldier in the War of the 
American Revolution and was wounded at the battle 
of Brandywine. 

The first school that John H. Reagan attended was 
at Nancy Academy in Sevierville. His father was not 
able to send him to school very long, so he found work 
to do. He wanted to work a while in order that 
he might make enough money to go to school, for there 
was nothing that he wanted so much as an education. 
He left his home to look for work, and he found it, as 

148 




JOHN H. REAGAN. 



The Old Commoner 151 

boys usually do when they look long enough and really 
want to find it. 

Major Walker, who owned a large farm, employed 
him to do farm work, and he agreed to receive the pay 
for his work in corn at two shillings a bushel. His next 
work was managing a set of saw-mills, and at this work 
he made enough money to go to the college at Mary- 
ville two sessions. Major Walker found young Reagan 
to be a good worker and reliable, so he asked him if he 
wouldn't come back and work for him again, this time 
to be bookkeeper in his large country store. He kept 
books a while, but, being determined to finish his edu- 
cation, he sought employment that would pay him 
enough to allow him to return to college. He left 
Tennessee and went to Decatur, Alabama, seeking 
employment. 

After some time spent in Decatur he went to Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, then to Natchez, Mississippi. At 
Natchez he secured a position as teacher, which posi- 
tion he was just about to take, when a man who owned 
a large farm asked him if he would not like to manage 
it. As this paid much better than the position as teacher, 
and as he was anxious to make enough money to com- 
plete his education, he accepted the offer, and for a 
good long time managed the farm. 

He left Natchez on a boat for the Red River, intending 
to go to Alexandria, Louisiana, but an incident which 
came up on the boat changed his plans. He met 
Colonel Strode, a merchant from Nacogdoches, who 



152 Texas Heroes 

offered to pay him eight hundred dollars a year to sell 
goods for him in Nacogdoches. He accepted the offer 
and came to Texas in 1839. 

REAGAN COMES TO TEXAS 

In 1839, the Texas frontier was alive with wild In- 
dians who were plundering and destroying property 
everywhere within their reach. John H. Reagan 
fought the Indians and protected the inhabitants who 
were so annoyed by them. 

From 1839 until 1843 he surveyed the public lands 
of Texas, during which time he traveled over much of 
east Texas, camping in the woods and on the banks of 
the rivers. He studied carefully the nature of the soil, 
trees and plants of Texas. 

In 1844, without a teacher and with only a few law 
books, he began to study law. In 1846 he received a 
license to practice law, and he opened an office at 
Buffalo, on the Trinity River. After one year of prac- 
tice he was elected to the Legislature. In 1852 he was 
elected District Judge; in 1857 he was elected to Con- 
gress and re-elected in 1859. In 1861 he was appointed 
Postmaster General of the Confederacy. He also 
served the Confederate government for a short time as 
Secretary of the Treasury. 

In 1875 he was again elected to Congress, and he was 
member of the State convention which framed our con- 
stitution in 1876. He continued his service in Con- 
gress until 1887 when he was elected a member of the 
United States Senate, which honorable office he held 



The Old Commoner 153 

until 1891, when he resigned to accept the chairmanship 
of the Texas Railroad Commission. 

He held the chairmanship of the Texas Railroad 
Commission for eleven and a half years, when he re- 
signed and retired to private life at his beautiful home 
near Palestine, " Fort Houston," where he died March 
the sixth, 1905, aged eighty-seven years. 



MORE SOLDIERS THAN VOTERS 

Many of the brave deeds and acts of self-sacrifice 
which have made the glory of the Confederate soldier 
were done by the Confederate soldiers who went into 
the southern army from the State of Texas. The war, 
1861 to 1865, between the northern and southern States, 
was fiercely fought. The people who lived in these two 
sections could not agree upon many important matters, 
and though wise and far-seeing men in both sections 
tried to settle the strife without fighting, this could 
not be done. 

The southern States, Texas among them, left the 
Union, and formed the " Confederate States of Amer- 
ica." The South believed that, according to the Con- 
stitution of the United States, a State had a right to 
leave the Union. 

One county in Texas sent more soldiers to fight than 
there were voters in the county. To be a voter a man 
must be twenty-one years of age, so more men left that 
county to fight than were old enough to vote. In 
every great battle the Texas soldiers took a part. At 
Manassas, Shiloh, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga, the 
Wilderness, Gettysburg, and Ganies' mill, the blood 
of brave young Texans was left upon the field. The 

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More Soldiers than Voters 157 

soldiers who lived through the din of war, came back 
to their homes at its close to take up life, rebuild their 
ruined homes, and to make the Texas that we have 
today. 

Though they had passed through four long years of 
fighting, long marches, hunger and sickness, and they 
reached their shattered homes worn out in mind and 
body, the Confederate soldiers, who returned to their 
Texas homes, took up the duties that were before them, 
and they were many. Farm lands had been neglected 
and homes in the towns had not been kept up, In 
many homes every man in the family was in the war, 
husband, father, brother and son. No factories had 
been built, no churches, no schoolhouses, no good roads, 
and the improvement of the State was at a stand still. 

THE WOMEN OF THE SIXTIES 

But while the men of Texas were fighting upon the 
battle-field the women of Texas were doing their best 
to keep up their homes and to have them ready to make 
the brave soldiers comfortable when the war was over. 

These women did spinning and weaving, and they 
made the garments which covered their own fair bodies 
and those of their little children. They sent many 
garments, made with their own hands, to the soldiers 
on the field and to those in the hospitals. They sent 
all comforts which they could to give cheer to the 
soldiers. 

Some of these brave women taught little schools. 
They taught their own and their neighbors' children in 



158 Texas Heroes 

the parlors of their homes, in a church, or hall, and the 
children learned many good and useful things. 

BOYS AND GIRLS OF THE SIXTIES 

One boy studied, with his mother, the four years of 
the war, and when the war was over, just as soon as he 
could earn the money to do it, he entered college. His 
instructors said he was better prepared for college than 
most of the boys they had taught, and his only teacher 
had been his mother. 

Another bo}^ twelve years old when the war began, 
took care of his mother and two little sisters for the 
four long years. He made a crop with the. assist- 
ance of one old negro servant, he sold vegetables, and 
three months of each year he worked in a grocery store. 

He could not go to school, though he wanted very 
much to go, but he provided his mother and little sisters 
with comforts at a time when comforts were hard to 
provide. This boy became one of the leading business 
men of the United States. 

The girls of the sixties nursed the soldiers, cared for 
the little ones while their mothers were at work, and 
they tried to make the sad-hearted people happy. 
This is just as fine a business as a young girl can have. 

Though the great number of battles in the war be- 
tween the States were fought in other States than Texas, 
in which, as we have said, the young Texans took 
glorious part, there was some quick, fine action in Texas. 

BATTLE OF SABINE PASS 

On September the eighth, 1863, the Confederates 




FRANCIS RICHARD LUBBOCK. 



More Soldiers than Voters 161 

had a brilliant success at Sabine Pass. Two cotton- 
covered vessels darted fearlessly out from Sabine Lake 
and captured two of the enemy's blockading vessels, 
the Velocity and the Morning Light, and drove 
away four other vessels. The Confederates, number- 
ing only forty-two, were under the command of Cap- 
tain " Dick " Dowling, a brave young Irishman whom 
his men loved and trusted. This act of Captain Dow- 
ling's was one of the finest pieces of personal work known 
during the four years of the war, for it prevented the 
landing of six thousand Federal troops whose purpose 
was to invade Texas. 

The heroism of Dick Dowling and his men pre- 
vented the Federal Government from establishing con- 
trol in Texas. The importance of this victory was 
acknowledged by President Jefferson Davis in the 
following letter which he wrote in 1884. 

President Davis said: " Rocked in the cradle of the 
Revolution, the history of Texas is full of heroic deeds, 
from the self-sacrificing band of the Alamo, who gave to 
the State the example of how men should dare and die 
to protect the helpless, to the defense of Sabine Pass, 
which for intrepidity and extraordinary success must, 
I think, be admitted to have no parallel in the annals 
of ancient or modern warfare." 

THE CAPTURE OF THE HARRIET LANE 

On the coast of Galveston on New Year's Day, 1863, 
the Confederate boats Neptune and Banyou City, 
attacked the Federal boat, Harriet Lane, com- 



162 Texas Heroes 

manded by Captain Wainwright. The Confederate 
boats fired from behind a high wall of cotton bales and 
Captain Wainwright was killed. General J. B. Ma- 
gruder commanded the Confederates. The Ne'p- 
tune was sunk, but the Banyou City became 
caught and entangled in the rigging of the Harriet 
Lane^ giving the Confederates the opportunity to 
jump on board and take possession of her. The officers 
on the Harriet Lane were lost, and she surrendered. 
After a stout resistance the enemy on land also sur- 
rendered. Their ship, the Westfield, in trying to 
get out of the harbor, ran aground, and in order to keep 
the Confederates from capturing her the Federals blew 
her up. From this time until the war closed Texas 
was in the hands of the Confederates. Governor F. R. 
Lubbock, Governor of Texas at the time, is called the 
" War Governor." 

The last battle of the war was fought in Texas, at 
Brazos, Santiago, May 14, 1865. 

TEXAS HONORS THE CONFEDERACY 

The State of Texas takes good care of those of her 
Confederate soldiers who are helpless and penniless 
in the beautiful Texas Confederate Home at Austin. 
This State also takes care of the helpless wives and 
widows of her Confederate soldiers, in the attractive 
and comfortable Texas Confederate Woman's Home 
at Austin. 

Monuments in marble and bronze have been erected 
in many cities and towns in Texas, to honor the valor 




CAPTAIN DICK DOWLING 



More Soldiers than Voters 165 

and self-sacrifice of these heroes. Some of these monu- 
ments have been erected by surviving comrades and 
friends, and others by the devoted women banded to- 
gether in the sacred memory of the soldiers of the 
Confederacy. 






























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